'Imposed 12-month moratorium on animal imports', Vantara tells Supreme Court

Vantara, the animal rescue and rehabilitation facility in Gujarat's Jamnagar, has informed the Supreme Court that it has voluntarily imposed a 12-month moratorium on applications for importing animals as it works to strengthen its governance and due-diligence mechanisms. The facility disclosed the decision in an application filed before the apex court on Wednesday in the case of Karnartham Viramah Foundation versus Union of India and Others.

According to Vantara, the self-imposed moratorium has been operational internally since June 5, 2026, when the last physical import of animals took place at the facility. It also said no new applications for animal imports had been submitted since February and there were currently no pending import requests.

Focus on stronger safeguards

Vantara told the court that during the 12-month period it would work towards putting enhanced governance expertise and internal due-diligence procedures into operation. The facility also plans structured outreach and will pursue international accreditation and benchmarking during the moratorium.

The details were included in a representation submitted to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Management Authority of India and subsequently placed before the Supreme Court. The moratorium concerns applications for new imports and is a measure adopted voluntarily by Vantara rather than a suspension imposed by the court or the government.

Permanent restrictions announced

Apart from the temporary moratorium, Vantara has told the Supreme Court that it intends to follow several permanent self-imposed restrictions governing future animal acquisitions.

It has committed not to import animals using CITES re-export certificates unless at least seven years have passed since the animal was originally imported into the re-exporting country. Vantara has also said it will not directly import wild-caught specimens from their natural range states, even in cases where such animals may subsequently have been bred in captivity. The facility further intends to direct more resources towards treatment, placement and lifelong care of distressed animals in their countries of origin rather than necessarily transporting them to India.

Earlier plea rejected by SC

The latest application comes against the backdrop of litigation concerning international transfers of animals to Vantara's facilities in Jamnagar. The Supreme Court had earlier declined a plea seeking a fresh investigation into wildlife transfers involving Vantara and the associated Khodiyar Animal Welfare Trust.

The Karnartham Viramah Foundation had sought another investigation by agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate. The apex court, however, noted that allegations relating to animal transfers up to September 2025 had already been examined by a Special Investigation Team. Its findings had been accepted by the court in September 2025 and the position was subsequently reaffirmed in March this year.

In March, the Supreme Court also rejected a fresh petition alleging violations of international wildlife trade norms, observing that the issues raised had already been examined through the earlier SIT inquiry.

SIT had examined wildlife acquisitions

The Supreme Court-appointed SIT had been tasked with examining a wide range of allegations concerning Vantara, including the acquisition of animals from India and overseas and compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

It also examined adherence to CITES requirements and import-export regulations, along with animal husbandry, veterinary care and welfare standards at the Jamnagar facility. The investigation covered allegations concerning animal mortalities and questions over whether the climatic and environmental conditions at the facility were appropriate for the species housed there. The SIT found no violation warranting further action, following which the Supreme Court accepted its findings in September 2025.

Animal imports under scrutiny

Vantara's international animal acquisitions have attracted scrutiny from wildlife organisations and activists, particularly over the sourcing of endangered and exotic species and compliance with international trade rules.

CITES, the global treaty regulating international trade in endangered species, has separately scrutinised India's procedures for wildlife imports. Its Secretariat previously raised concerns about discrepancies in some trade records and called for stronger checks on the origins of animals entering the country. Indian authorities maintained that oversight mechanisms had been strengthened and pointed to the findings of the Supreme Court-appointed panel concerning Vantara.

The latest filing places Vantara's voluntary restrictions formally before the Supreme Court and indicates a shift towards limiting fresh international acquisitions while strengthening internal procedures. The 12-month moratorium will run from June 5, 2026, based on the date given by Vantara for its last physical animal import, even though the decision has now been formally disclosed to the court.