CITES flags Vantara’s 'exceptionally high' care standards after India visit

In on-site observations, the Secretariat found both centres operate “in accordance with exceptionally high standards” with “advanced facilities

CITES, the international body that oversees trade in endangered species, has praised the animal-care standards at Vantara and the strength of India’s regulatory framework, following a Secretariat visit to the country in September ahead of the 79th Standing Committee meeting in Uzbekistan.

The Secretariat’s report, prepared for the standing committee, CITES’s top policy guidance body, highlights advanced infrastructure, veterinary capabilities, and a conservation-first mandate at Vantara’s two facilities: the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and the Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT).

In on-site observations, the Secretariat found both centres operate “in accordance with exceptionally high standards” with “advanced facilities, including in terms of enclosures and veterinary care”. It recorded benchmark treatment successes and encouraged Vantara to share its veterinary procedures and outcomes with the wider scientific community, implying their international relevance.

India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which was amended in 2022, meets CITES minimum requirements and is classified in Category 1 under the National Legislation Project, signalling global compliance and robustness. The Secretariat also thanked India for “excellent organisation and technical and logistical support” during the mission, underscoring cooperation and transparency.

GZRRC and RKTEWT operate as rescue and breeding centres and have explicitly stated they do not and will not sell animals or their offspring. The Secretariat reported no evidence of animals imported without valid CITES permits or for commercial purposes, confirming lawful, ethical import practices under Indian oversight.

Progress in conservation has been evident in breeding outcomes. The Central Zoo Authority has approved programmes for 26 native and 16 non-native species; breeding of Asiatic lions has been successful, and Spix macaws are being reared for future breeding.

GZRRC was formally recognised as a zoo, rescue, and conservation-breeding centre in 2019, renewed in 2023, and evaluated again in 2025.

On September 15, the Supreme Court of India affirmed that acquisitions by GZRRC and RKTEWT complied fully with Indian law, CITES requirements, and other regulations.

Vantara oversees charitable activities and plans to build a public zoo intended to support future release and rewilding programmes, linking animal welfare, public education, and ecological restoration.

Both India’s CITES authorities and Vantara’s management acknowledged the Secretariat’s guidance and committed to further improvements in verification, transparency, and record-keeping for imports, alongside strengthened institutional capacity to ensure sustained compliance.

The Secretariat’s findings reveal a conservation enterprise operating at high technical standards within a robust legislative framework, with clear commitments to continuous improvement and sharing its advances with the global community.

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