A special investigation team appointed by India's top court has stated that the acquisition of animals at Vantara—a private zoo owned by the son of Asia's richest man, Mukesh Ambani—was compliant with all laws.
The team, comprised of retired judges, was established last month to investigate allegations that animals at Vantara were unlawfully acquired and mistreated. On Monday, it was confirmed that there was no foul play in the zoo's management.
Previously, the Supreme Court remarked that the allegations appeared to lack support but issued an inquiry after concerns were raised over insufficient investigations into the zoo's practices.
Vantara responded, emphasizing the inquiry's outcome as confirmation that the allegations were unfounded.
Home to around 2,000 species, Vantara spreads over 3,500 acres in Jamnagar, Gujarat. It includes a diverse range of animals, such as elephants and tigers, and is situated near Mukesh Ambani's oil refinery, the largest in the world.
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March, Vantara also hosted extravagant pre-wedding events for Anant Ambani, recently drawing significant media attention.
Despite being closed to the public, Vantara has faced criticism from wildlife activists, especially for the unsuitability of the region's climate for some animals. Recently, the zoo was at the center of protests when an ailing elephant from Kolhapur was transferred there following a court order.
On Tuesday, the court rejected further applications against the transfer, citing the independent inquiry that cleared the contained authorities.
