Vantara-Zoo-species protection as whisper of the rich

Ee visit to the zoo, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh. Nä, Wat is nice » – this is how one of the most famous Cologne folk songs begins. The Vantara Zoo in the Indian state of Gujarat has been ensuring international headlines for some time. Vantara – in German “Stern des Wald” – houses astonishing 25,000 animals from 48 species, according to the latest media reports. The location on the system of the world’s largest oil refinerie of the Indian mixed group Reliance Industries is also remarkable. The founder of the 1214 hectare zoos is Anant Ambani, youngest son of CEO Mukesh Ambani.

According to its own statements, Vantara primarily wants to keep and maintain animal species that endangered extinction, as well as from captivity such as circuses or overwhelmed zoos. Threatened species are to be obtained with the help of science and research as well as through breeding. The zoo is not limited to the AN and in itself the rich variety of mammals, fucking, fishing and reptiles in India, but imports animal species from all over the world. A big criticism of animal rights activists is already addressed: the climate in Gujarat is not necessarily suitable for animals from Africa or South America. Intensive care units for seriously ill animals, hyperly oxygen therapy and swimming pools for 200 “rescued” elephants in the almost luxuriously designed facility do not help.

There are also doubts about the number of 25,000 animals. According to the analysis of customs data by the animal welfare organization Pro Wildlife and research by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” (SZ) together with the Venezuelan Investigative medium “Armando Info” in 2023 and 2024, between 35,000 and 39,000 animals were founded by the two facilities belonging to Vantara in 2023 and 39,000. Foundation to protect elephants Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust imported. According to Pro Wildlife, “living rarities” such as the Spix-Ara and 145 ant bears from Guyana and Venezuela, 2250 monkeys from different types from Africa and South America as well as 364 large cats.

According to the “SZ”, the animals were imported from 32 countries by a total of 53 exporters. “The most important exporting land is therefore the United Arab Emirates (UAE), more than 11,000 animals went from here to Vantara, including endangered species, such as 14 orangutans and a mountain gorilla,” said “SZ” report on March 13, 2025.

The UAE has long been considered a turntable for legal and illegal trade in exotic animals and with animal products such as ivory. The latest reforms and regulations as well as increased cooperation with Interpol, the secretariat of the Cite species protection agreement and the network to monitor wildlife trade indicate growing engagement for species protection.

In its self-expression, the Vantara Zoo assures that all wildlife imports are right. This may even be right on the basis of Indian law. According to Indian media, the Indian government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a good friend of the Ambani clan, has recently made it easier for wildlife imports to be made. The project thus advertises with the well -known nature conservation organizations WWF and the International Union for the preservation of nature (IUCN), which publishes the red list of endangered species. A request from “ND” to the WWF India remained unanswered. The IUCN explained “ND”: “Like many other zoos, Vantara can refer to the red list of endangered types of IUCN as the most worldwide source of information on worldwide species protection. However, this does not represent a partnership. »

Legal and illegal wildlife trade is a booming business worldwide. The boundaries between the two forms are fluid. “In many cases it is difficult to distinguish between legal and illegal trade,” says the 2023 published in the “Journal of Environmental Management” Study an international and interdisciplinary research team of the Leibniz Institute for the analysis of the change of biodiversity “Determining the Sustainabilty of Legal Wildlife Trade”.

Legal and illegal wildlife trade is a booming business worldwide.

For example, species could be protected in their country of origin, but not listed in the Cites attachments. In particular, the lack of data on the export volume of wild animals, data on wildlife populations and evidence -based consequences of the trade is particularly questionable. Too often, legal trade is automatically equated with sustainable trade, although there is a lack of evidence that confirmed the confirmed. Thus, international trade with these species in most import countries is legal, even if the animals are of illegal origin.

After some back and forth, the reporters of the “SZ” were allowed to visit the Vantara Zoo, accompanied by zoo director Vivaan Karani as well as about ten other employees and a press lawyer from Germany. The conclusion of the reporters: «At a moment, the tour should be canceled because you cannot say in advance what conclusion the research will have. Then again you should definitely extend your stay to get an even better impression. »

Prime Minister Modi officially opened Vantara in his homeland Gujarat in early March. Modi could be photographed with the public when stroking giraffes and elephants and the feeding of cute lion babies. When the Vantara Zoo will be accessible to the public is still open. “A visit to the zoo” was granted an international promicar in March 2024. The occasion was the opulent party, including the concert by the pop queen Rihanna in the zoo, as part of the four -day wedding break of the animal lover Anant Anger Ambani. It has not been handed down