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The Secretariat report prepared for the upcoming seventieth meeting of the CITES Standing Committee in Samarkand, Uzbekistan highlights India’s strong wildlife laws and Vantara’s advanced veterinary care, infrastructure and ethical practices.
“Both Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (GZRRC) and Radha Krishna Mandir Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) work according to exceptionally high standards and have advanced facilities including enclosures and veterinary care,” the secretariat said.
“The Secretariat has no reason to doubt that these facilities are suitably equipped for housing and care for the animals, as is required under Article III of the Convention in the case of animals of Appendix I-listed species.”
Both institutions, located within the Vantara campus, were recognized for developing advanced veterinary procedures and achieving “significant breakthroughs in the medical care and treatment of animals”. The Secretariat encouraged that “these experiences be shared with the broader scientific community.”
The report also confirms India’s compliance with CITES regulations.
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“Based on a desk review of the information provided, and following the completion of the mission in India, the Secretariat notes that it has found no evidence of import of animals into India without CITES export permits or re-export certificates and, for Appendix-I species, import permits.”
“At this time, the Secretariat has not found evidence of any imports primarily for commercial purposes or commercial use of imported animals.”
The Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972—as amended in 2022—was recognized as meeting the minimum legal standards of CITES and was placed in Category 1 under the National Legislation Project, indicating full compliance with the requirements of the Convention.
The CITES team further stated that both facilities “unequivocally stressed that the sale of animals or their offspring was never intended, nor will it be pursued in the future,” reaffirming Vantara’s conservation-oriented mission.
Vantara’s two centers are officially recognized by the Indian authorities. GZRRC was approved by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) in 2019, with renewal in 2023 and 2025, while RKTEWT received recognition as a zoo in July 2025. The facilities currently house over 47,000 animals from thousands of species and have approved breeding programs for 26 native and 16 non-native species, including the successful breeding of Asiatic lions and ongoing efforts for the Spix’s macaw.
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