South African animal rights group calls for probe into Ambani-owned Vantara
New Delhi: A coalition of South African animal rights organisations has urged the country’s environment ministry to investigate the export of wild animals to the Reliance-owned Vantara animal rehabilitation centre in Gujarat.
The 3,000-acre facility, located in Jamnagar, was inaugurated earlier this month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum of South Africa (WAPFSA), a coalition of 30 organisations, has written to South African Environment Minister Dion George, highlighting concerns about the transfer of various wildlife species to Vantara.
According to WAPFSA, these concerns were raised within the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a global treaty regulating trade in endangered flora and fauna. The coalition noted that India's "potential non-compliance" was discussed at a CITES standing committee meeting in November 2023.
The facility has also faced criticism from animal rights groups over its location in a hot and arid region, which they argue may not be suitable for many of the species housed there. WAPFSA’s letter specifically questioned the export of leopards, cheetahs, tigers, and lions from South Africa to Vantara.
In July 2023, Vantara officials had informed the CITES secretariat that the centre had rescued animals from difficult conditions outside India and imported them from various countries. However, WAPFSA has rejected this explanation, citing concerns over the legality of the transactions and the methods used to obtain CITES documents.
The coalition also pointed out that a significant number of captive-bred animals in South African facilities could be traded for commercial purposes. It further alleged that lions and tigers may have been purchased from breeding centres in South Africa and warned that while their living conditions at Vantara may have improved, they could now be used for breeding and exploitation in animal nurseries outside the main zoo.
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23-year-old woman found dead at Delhi home; suicide suspected
New Delhi (PTI): A 23-year-old woman was found dead in her house in Delhi's Prem Nagar area, with police suspecting it to be a case of suicide, an official said on Tuesday.
The deceased, identified as Anjali Singh, was found motionless in her room on Monday by her sister and her neighbour.
Police said her father, Vinod Kumar Singh (51), told them that he and his wife were away at work at the time of the incident, while their son and the other daughter were also not at home at the time of the incident.
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According to the family, the room in which Anjali was found was locked from the inside. The door was later forcibly opened by a neighbour and her sister with the help of a crowbar.
Her body was found lying on the bed inside the room, police said.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that Anjali had allegedly hanged herself using a piece of cloth tied to the ceiling fan.
It is suspected that the noose eventually might have loosened or torn off, resulting in her being found lying on the bed.
Family members informed the police that Anjali was a final-year student of a librarian science course from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). About a week ago, her final-year examination results were declared, and she had failed, following which she had been under depression, they said.
The family has not raised any allegation of foul play, police said, adding that no suicide note or external injury marks were found on the body during the initial inspection.
Inquest proceedings have been initiated in the matter as per the law. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact cause of death, and further investigation is underway, police added.
