India’s New Animal Import Tax Puts Pressure on Ambani Family’s Vantara Zoo
India’s latest budget move has delivered an unexpected blow to the country’s most high-profile wildlife conservation project. A new 30% customs duty on the import of animals and birds, effective from Monday, is set to significantly raise costs for Vantara, the sprawling animal rescue and rehabilitation centre run by the Ambani family in Gujarat.
Spread across 3,500 acres in Jamnagar, Vantara is operated by the philanthropic arm of Reliance Industries, led by Anant Ambani, the youngest son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani. Housing nearly 2,000 species, the facility has no parallel in India when it comes to the scale of animal imports, most of which are linked to international rescue and conservation efforts.
Since 2022, Vantara has brought in animals ranging from cheetahs and rhinoceroses to dozens of reptiles from countries including South Africa, the UAE and Venezuela, according to a Reuters analysis. Until now, such imports benefited from a customs duty exemption. The government has not publicly explained why this exemption has been withdrawn.
Legal experts say the impact could be substantial. “Even large, globally benchmarked conservation projects like Vantara will feel the strain,” said Rajat Mohan, senior partner at AMRG & Associates. “The volume of imports may be small, but the cost implications are significant.”
Rescue Work Under Financial Strain
Vantara has consistently maintained that it never pays to acquire animals. Instead, it covers expenses such as insurance, transport and logistics, as animals are transferred solely for rescue, rehabilitation and conservation. However, lawyers warn that the new tax could make international rescue missions far more expensive.
“While the policy may aim to promote domestic breeding and self-reliance, it places a heavy financial burden on global rescue operations,” said Delhi-based lawyer Manuj Sabharwal.
The centre has frequently been in the spotlight. It featured prominently during the Ambani family’s pre-wedding celebrations in 2024, has been visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and even hosted football icon Lionel Messi during a private tour last December.
Past Scrutiny, Clean Chit
Vantara has also faced controversy. Last year, the UN wildlife trade body CITES flagged discrepancies in trade data and raised concerns over checks on the origin of some animals. However, India’s Supreme Court later cleared the centre of any wrongdoing. Vantara says it complies fully with all national and international regulations, even as European authorities continue to monitor exports linked to the facility.
According to Reuters, Vantara’s shipments so far have had a declared value of around $9 million. In one example, a 2023 consignment of 26 rare parrots from Germany was valued at just over $25,000 for insurance and freight, with import tax waived under the old rules.
With the exemption now gone, conservationists and legal experts say projects like Vantara may need to rethink how they manage international rescues raising broader questions about how tax policy intersects with wildlife protection in India.
News Source : Picked by Reuters
