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Supreme Court rejects plea to reopen probes into Vantara wildlife transfers, upholds SIT findings as final, praises Vantara conservation work.
During the hearing of the wildlife transfer case, the Supreme Court observed that Vantara acted at all times in good faith.
The Supreme Court has dismissed a fresh application seeking to reopen issues relating to wildlife transfers involving Vantara and associated entities, observing that a “settled and vested right” had accrued in its favour following earlier acceptance of the SIT findings.
The court on Wednesday directed authorities to strengthen future compliance mechanisms under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and N V Anjaria dismissed the application, which sought fresh inquiries by agencies including the CBI, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) into animal acquisitions and transfers linked to the Jamnagar-based wildlife facility.
The application, filed by Karanartham Viramah Foundation, relied on developments in foreign jurisdictions including Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Peru, Malaysia and Venezuela, as well as discussions before the CITES Standing Committee.
The court, however, held that the issues raised in the application had already been examined by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court and that the SIT’s findings had been accepted by the court in September 2025 and reaffirmed in March 2026.
Here is the PDF of the court order – Document17-2026-05-776ed6e04153a03b87a2453dec4428c9
What The Petition Sought
The petitioner sought a wide range of directions, including fresh investigations by agencies, coordination with foreign authorities, examination of wildlife regulators, and seizure of animals housed at the Jamnagar facility.
It also sought directions on obtaining material from foreign investigations and on examining current and former employees, consultants, and contractors associated with the respondents.
The Supreme Court rejected all the reliefs sought in the application.
Court Says Earlier SIT Findings Have Attained Finality
The bench noted that the SIT had been constituted by the Supreme Court and included a former Supreme Court judge, a former chief justice of a high court, a former commissioner of police and a senior customs officer.
According to the order, the SIT was assisted by agencies including the CBI, ED, DRI, WCCB, Customs Department, Central Zoo Authority, CITES Management Authority of India and other government bodies.
The court recorded that the SIT had conducted site inspections, examined records, sought information from foreign authorities and heard complainants, journalists and environmental activists who had raised concerns.
The bench said the allegations raised in the present application related to transfers and transactions that had already been examined by the SIT.
“In view of the SIT Report accepted by this court, the Greens Zoological and Radha Krishna Temple Trust, cannot be investigated, inquired into, much less prosecuted, in respect of the transfers therein examined, no direction can be issued to any domestic authority in respect of the specimens so transferred, and the matter cannot be reopened at the instance of any body, global or otherwise,” the Bench stated, calling it a “bar of finality”.
No Evidence Found In CITES Material
The court also referred to observations recorded by the CITES Secretariat that there was no evidence of animals being imported into India without the required CITES export permits, re-export certificates or import permits, where required.
The Secretariat had also recorded that it had found no evidence of commercial activities linked to the sale of animals or their offspring by the entities concerned.
Examining every animal transfer jurisdiction by jurisdiction, across the UAE, Venezuela, Brazil, the Czech Republic and South Africa, the apex court found each of them to be lawful, non-commercial, zoo-to-zoo movement, supported by valid CITES export and import permits and the requisite approvals of the Central Zoo Authority.
The Court affirmed that Vantara acted at all times in good faith, and that any irregularity by a foreign exporter in its own jurisdiction could not automatically fasten liability on the Indian institution receiving the animals.
‘Vantara Carrying Out Conservation Work Of Global Significance’
The court also recognised that Vantara is carrying out conservation work of true global significance in Jamnagar, including engagement with Brazil relating to the reintroduction of endangered macaws and a conservation breeding programme that advances worldwide species recovery.
The bench noted that disturbing animals after their lawful import and relocation to a settled and cared-for environment could amount to cruelty.
The judgment further recorded that a “settled and vested right” had accrued in favour of the Vantara-linked respondent entities following acceptance of the SIT report and its subsequent affirmation by the Supreme Court.
Directions On Future CITES Compliance
The Court also issued directions aimed at strengthening India’s framework for regulating imports of listed species.
It asked the CITES Management Authority of India (CMA India) to establish direct communication with the CITES Secretariat in Geneva and prepare a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the issuance of import permits for live specimens.
The SOP is to be drafted in consultation with the Secretariat and submitted before the Supreme Court once finalised.
The Court also indicated that the proposed framework could be examined further in future proceedings.
‘We Are Humbled’: Vantara Welcomes Supreme Court’s Order
Vantara welcomed the Supreme Court’s order, describing it as a significant development that brought closure to allegations concerning its wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation work. The organisation said the judgment reaffirmed the legal basis of its activities.
Speaking on the court’s order, Chief Executive Officer of Vantara Vivaan Karani said, “This judgment affirms the truth that has guided us from the very first rescue — that every animal in our care arrived lawfully, was treated ethically, and is protected for life. The nation’s highest court has recognised yet again, not only the integrity of our work, but the spirit behind it.”
“At Vantara, conservation is not a claim, it is a daily act of compassion. To every sceptic, our answer remains the same as our promise to every creature we have ever healed — Every Life Matters. We are humbled, we are vindicated, and we are more committed than ever to the animals who depend on us,” Karani added.
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