The Union Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change has evaded a parliamentary question on the number of animals kept at the Reliance Foundation sponsored Vantara facility in Gujarat’s Jamnagar district.

Sudha Ramakrishnan, the Congress MP from Tamil Nadu, also asked if the government had inspected the living conditions of these animals and conducted any study on their impact on the environment.

Vantara – an amalgam of Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust and Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre – is a rescue, conservation and rehabilitation centre spread over 3,000 acres. Its operations are overseen by Anant Ambani.

In his written reply, minister of state Kirti Vardhan Singh said there are five private zoos approved under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. These are Turtle, Terrapin and Tortoise Rescue Centre (TTTRC) at Nellor district; Avian and Reptile Rehabilitation Centre in Bengaluru; Rescue Centre, Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust and Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Jamnagar; and Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura.

“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,” read the government reply.

“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,” read the reply.

This comes days after a protest around the relocation of an elephant to the private facility.

Newslaundry had earlier reported how reports about Vantara were curiously unavailable, hours after they were published by a few media outlets.

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