Parliament Question: Licence to Private Zoo named VANTARA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3676 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025 Licence to Private Zoo named VANTARA

3676. KM. SUDHA R:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to

state:

(a) whether the Government has given all necessary and mandatory permissions for a private zoo called Vantara in Gujarat, if so, the details thereof along with the date and name of officers granted such permission;

(b) the details of provision of Environment and Forest Laws under which said permission has been granted by the Government along with the list of permissions given to animals imported from different countries and transferred from States and kept at the said zoo;

(c) the details of other private zoos permitted over a decade by the Government, State- wise;

(d) the number of animals kept at Vantara Zoo, including Schedule-1 animals, species- wise and country/place of origin-wise;

(e) whether the Government has inspected the living conditions of these animals and conducted any study on their impact on the environment; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Government proposes to conduct such study? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (f) The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides a regulatory framework for establishment of zoos and acquisition of animals by the recognized zoos. The Central Zoo Authority conducts evaluation of zoos while granting recognition. As informed by the Central Zoo Authority there is a recognized zoo, namely Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Further, an elephant camp and animal care centre at Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust, recognized by the Chief Wild Life Warden, Gujarat, has been accorded prior approval by the Central Zoo Authority under section 38-H(1-A) of the Wild Life

(Protection) Act, 1972.

The details of zoo with private ownership that have been accorded prior approval for establishment under Sec 38 H (1-A) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 and the zoo with private ownership that has been recognized by the Central Zoo Authority, under the Act is at Annexure.

*****Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) to (f) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3676 due for reply on 11.08.2025 regarding “Licence to private Zoo named Vantara” Details of zoos with private ownership for which prior approval for establishment accorded under section 38-H (1-A) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 during last 10 years S. No. State/UT Establishment Name Location Turtle, Terrapin and SPSR Nellore 1 Andhra Pradesh Tortoise Rescue Centre District

(TTTRC) Avian & Reptile 2 Karnataka Bengaluru Rehabilitation Centre Rescue Centre, Radhe 3 Gujarat Krishna Temple Elephant Jamnagar Welfare Trust Elephant Conservation and 4 Uttar Pradesh Mathura Care Centre Detail of private zoo recognized under sub-section (1), (3) and (4) of 38-H of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 during last 10 years S. No. State/UT Establishment Name Location Greens Zoological Rescue 1 Gujarat Jamnagar and Rehabilitation Centre *****