Investigation raises questions on zoo transfers of exotic animals to Reliance-run Vantara
New Delhi: A recent investigative report published in Himal Southasian magazine has highlighted the issue of exotic wildlife smuggling into India through the porous borders of the northeast region. The report, authored by M. Rajshekhar, reveals that while many consignments of trafficked wildlife have been intercepted by law enforcement agencies and relocated to zoos, a significant number have found their way to Vantara, an initiative by Reliance Industries aimed at the 'rescue' and sheltering of wildlife.
Situated within the premises of the Jamnagar petrochemical complex, Vantara gained media attention during the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in early March 2024.
According to the report, the dynamics of wildlife trade have evolved over time. While until 2018, most of the trade originated in India and was directed towards countries like Myanmar, China, and Vietnam, the trend has reversed. Presently, new supply chains are facilitating the influx of exotic species, including kangaroos, reptiles, birds, and primates from South-East Asia and Latin America into India.
Upon interception, the smuggled birds and animals are typically transferred to the nearest state-owned zoos in cities like Guwahati or Aizawl. However, a recent shift has been observed, as a significant number of these 'rescued' animals are subsequently relocated to Jamnagar from the zoos in Assam.
The report highlights the exponential growth of Vantara over the past four years, with a substantial collection of endangered species and a workforce of 2,700 individuals managing the facility. According to the Greens Zoological, Rescue, and Rehabilitation Centre's annual report for 2022–23, which collaborates with the Radhe Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust, Vantara houses 3,889 birds and animals representing 134 species.
Questions raised by the Himal report also pertain to the transfer of wildlife to Vantara from other zoos. For instance, the Sakkarbaug Zoo in Gujarat's Junagadh reportedly transferred 101 leopards to Jamnagar between March 2021 and March 2023, with unclear reasoning behind such a substantial transfer, as noted in the report.
In the fiscal year 2022–23, Greens documented a total of 160 transactions involving the receipt of wildlife. Some of the birds originated from state zoos located in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Karnataka, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Nagaland.
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'Go back to your own country': Indian-origin taxi driver attacked in Dublin
London, Aug 5 (PTI): An Indian-origin taxi driver based in Ireland for over 23 years has become the latest to be targeted in an unprovoked attack in the capital Dublin, with local police (Gardai) launching an investigation into the violent assault.
Lakhvir Singh, in his 40s, told local media that he picked up two young men in their 20s on Friday night and dropped them at Poppintree, in the Ballymun suburb of Dublin.
Upon arriving at the destination, the men are said to have opened the vehicle door and struck him twice on the head with a bottle. As the suspects fled, they reportedly shouted: "Go back to your own country".
"In 10 years I've never seen anything like this happen," Singh told ‘Dublin Live’.
"I'm really scared now and I'm off the road at the moment. It will be very hard to go back. My children are really scared," he said.
A Dublin police spokesperson said Singh was taken to the city's Beaumont Hospital with injuries determined as not life-threatening.
"Gardaí are investigating an assault reported to have occurred in Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11 at approximately 11:45 pm on Friday, 1st August 2025. A man, aged in his 40s, was brought to Beaumont Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injury. Investigations are ongoing," the spokesperson said.
The incident followed an Indian Embassy advisory, also issued on Friday, expressing safety concerns following recent attacks in and around the capital Dublin and urging Indian citizens to take safety precautions.
"There has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently,” states the advisory.
“The embassy is in touch with the authorities concerned in Ireland in this regard. At the same time, all Indian citizens in Ireland are advised to take reasonable precautions for their personal security and avoid deserted areas, especially at odd hours," the statement reads, adding emergency embassy contact details as 0899423734 and cons.dublin@mea.gov.in.
It came in the wake of a brutal attack on a 40-year-old Indian man at Parkhill Road in the Tallaght suburb of Dublin on July 19, described as “mindless, racist violence” by locals.
The Gardai had opened an investigation into the case and Indian Ambassador to Ireland Akhilesh Mishra was among those who took to social media to express shock over the attack.
“Regarding the recent incident of physical attack on an Indian national that happened in Tallaght, Dublin, the embassy is in touch with the victim and his family. All the requisite assistance is being offered. The embassy is also in touch with the relevant Irish authorities in this regard,” the embassy said in a social media post days after the incident.
A Stand Against Racism protest was also held by the local community in condemnation of what was described as a "vicious racist attack" and to express solidarity with migrants.
Last week, Dr Santosh Yadav took to LinkedIn to post details of a “brutal, unprovoked racist attack”.
The entrepreneur and AI expert stressed that it was not an isolated incident and called for “concrete measures” from the governments of Ireland and India to ensure Indians feel safe to walk the streets of Dublin.
His post revealed that a group of six teenagers attacked him from behind as he walked to his apartment in Dublin.
“This is not an isolated incident. Racist attacks on Indian men and other minorities are surging across Dublin — on buses, in housing estates, and on public streets. Yet, the government is silent. There is no action being taken against these perpetrators. They run free and are emboldened to attack again,” reads Yadav's post.
Fine Gael party Councillor for Tallaght South, Baby Pereppadan, was among those who expressed concern following last month’s attack.
“People need to understand that many Indian people moving to Ireland are here on work permits, to study and work in the healthcare sector or in IT and so on, providing critical skills,” he said.
Another violent anti-Indian attack in Ireland
— Journalist V (@OnTheNewsBeat) August 5, 2025
Taxi driver Lakhvir Singh was attacked with glass bottles while doing his job pic.twitter.com/mtkwhLWISx
