In a move that has raised eyebrows, The Telegraph has completely removed an article critical of Vantara, the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center owned by Anant Ambani, son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. While the article has been deleted, the URL (https://www.telegraphindia.com/amp/world/probe-animal-export-to-vantara-network-of-wildlife-orgs-writes-to-south-africas-minister/cid/2088094) remains accessible, serving as a digital footprint of the content that once existed.
The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA), a coalition of 30 national organizations, has raised concerns over the export of wild animals, including leopards and tigers, to Vantara, a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center run by Anant Ambani, son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.
In a letter addressed to South Africa’s environment minister Dion George, WAPFSA highlighted the growing concerns within the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) about the increasing number of species being exported to Vantara. The group has urged George to investigate the matter thoroughly.
WAPFSA reported that in a meeting on July 28, 2023, Vantara representatives explained that the center has been rescuing animals in challenging conditions from outside India and importing them from multiple countries. However, the forum questions the ethical nature of these imports and the commercial trade of captive-bred animals, especially regarding 12 cheetahs that were sent to India.
The letter also raises questions about where the other 56 cheetahs exported from South Africa came from. Vantara, which officially opened on February 26, 2024, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on World Wildlife Day, March 3. The forum’s concerns focus on the legality of these animal exports and their potential misuse for commercial purposes.