Archive · 13 Nov 2025
CITES Praises India's Vantara for Global Wildlife Care Standards
Imagine a special club for animals that need extra protection because they are rare or in danger.
This club is called CITES, and it makes rules for how countries trade these animals to keep them safe.
Recently, people from CITES visited a big animal rescue place in India called Vantara.
They were very impressed!
They said Vantara has amazing doctors and safe homes for the animals.
They also said Vantara follows all the international rules perfectly and doesn't do any trading of animals that isn't allowed.
CITES even said India's laws for protecting animals are some of the best in the world.
Vantara is helping to save animals like the Asiatic lion and rare birds, showing that caring for animals with science and kindness can work really well.
CITES has praised India's Vantara initiative for meeting global standards in wildlife care and conservation.
An official CITES report highlighted Vantara's advanced veterinary infrastructure and ethical practices.
Vantara's facilities, including GZRRC and RKTEWT, were found to be fully compliant with international regulations for endangered species.
India's national wildlife protection laws were recognized by CITES as being among the best globally.
Vantara's commitment to conservation is demonstrated through its rescue efforts and breeding programs for endangered species, with no intention of selling animals or their offspring.
- Who
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) Secretariat and India's Vantara initiative (GZRRC and RKTEWT)
- What
- CITES lauded Vantara for its world-class wildlife care standards, compliance with international trade norms, and ethical stewardship of endangered species, citing advanced veterinary infrastructure and conservation-driven management.
- When
- Following an official visit in September, with findings presented at the seventy-ninth meeting of the CITES Standing Committee.
- Where
- Samarkand, Uzbekistan (for the Standing Committee meeting); India (for Vantara facilities).
- Why
- Vantara has demonstrated exemplary veterinary infrastructure, ethical practices, advanced facilities, and robust compliance with international wildlife trade norms, aligning with India's strong wildlife protection framework.
CITES Secretariat's Findings
India's Vantara Initiative
Compliance with International Trade Norms
CITES Secretariat's Findings
The CITES Secretariat reported that Vantara facilities operate to exceptionally high standards and are fully compliant with Article III of the Convention, with no illegal imports or commercial breeding activities detected.
India's Vantara Initiative
Vantara is commended for its robust compliance with international wildlife trade norms and ethical stewardship of endangered species.
National Legislation Alignment
CITES Secretariat's Findings
The CITES Secretariat noted India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022, aligns fully with international obligations, placing India in Category 1 under CITES’ National Legislation Project.
India's Vantara Initiative
Vantara's operations are within the framework of India's strong wildlife protection laws, which are recognized as being at the highest level of compliance globally.
Animal Sales and Commercial Intent
CITES Secretariat's Findings
The CITES report confirmed no illegal imports or commercial breeding activities were detected and that the Secretariat has not found evidence of imports for primarily commercial purposes.
India's Vantara Initiative
Both centers have reaffirmed their conservation-first philosophy, clarifying that the sale of animals or their offspring has never been intended and will not be pursued in the future.
- Initiative Name
- Vantara
- Organizations
- Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT)
- CITES Visit
- September
- Report Presentation
- Seventy-ninth meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- CZA Approval for GZRRC
- 2019, revalidated 2023 and 2025
- CZA Approval for RKTEWT
- July 2025
- Animals Housed
- Over 47,000 animals across thousands of species
- Approved Breeding Programmes
- 42 species (26 native, 16 non-native)