Lok Sabha Question No. 3676 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-11
Subject: Licence to Private Zoo named VANTARA
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Km. Sudha R

## 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, Statewise;
- (d) the number of animals kept at Vantara Zoo, including Schedule-1 animals, specieswise 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 .

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## 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              |
|----------|----------------|------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------|
|        1 | Andhra Pradesh | Turtle, Terrapin and Tortoise Rescue Centre (TTTRC)        | SPSR Nellore District |
|        2 | Karnataka      | Avian &Reptile Rehabilitation Centre                       | Bengaluru             |
|        3 | Gujarat        | Rescue Centre, Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust | Jamnagar              |
|        4 | Uttar Pradesh  | Elephant Conservation and Care Centre                      | Mathura               |

## 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   |
|----------|------------|----------------------------------------------------|------------|
|        1 | Gujarat    | Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre | Jamnagar   |

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