Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Vantara Pledges No New Imports in Voluntary CITES Commitments
Vantara is a wildlife rescue and conservation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
It gave India’s CITES officials a list of voluntary promises.
CITES is a set of international rules for moving endangered animals and plants between countries.
Vantara said it will follow these rules.
It will withdraw its pending requests to bring animals into the centre and will not make new requests for now.
Any later import plan would first be discussed with Indian CITES officials.
Vantara also wants to protect more animals in their natural homes, especially in India.
It plans to send progress reports every six months and create a fund for conservation work.
The commitments were also filed with the Supreme Court of India.
Vantara submitted voluntary commitments to India’s CITES Management Authority on Wednesday.
The commitments target stronger governance, transparency and regulatory compliance at its Jamnagar centre.
Vantara said it will withdraw pending animal-import applications and submit no new ones for the time being.
Any future import proposal would require consultation with India’s CITES Management Authority.
Vantara plans to prioritize conservation in India, issue six-monthly reports and establish an international conservation fund.
- Who
- Vantara, a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre, submitted the commitments.
- What
- It pledged stronger governance, transparency and CITES compliance, limits on animal imports, greater in-situ conservation and additional oversight.
- When
- Wednesday; the articles do not provide a calendar date.
- Where
- The commitments concern Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat, and were submitted to India’s CITES Management Authority and filed with the Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- The commitments followed a review of concerns, criticism, observations and suggestions from conservation organisations, experts and other stakeholders, and are intended to strengthen compliance and conservation.
- Organisation
- Vantara
- Location
- Jamnagar, Gujarat
- Regulatory framework
- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates international trade in wild animals and plants.
- Import policy
- Vantara will withdraw pending animal-import applications and submit no new applications for the time being.
- Future imports
- Any future proposal to import animals would be made only after consultation with India’s CITES Management Authority.
- Reporting
- Vantara plans to submit progress reports to the CITES Management Authority every six months and invite inspections.
- Conservation fund
- The centre plans to create a dedicated international fund supporting local wildlife conservation efforts.
