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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Iran-Israel conflict: CBSE postpones class 10, 12 board exams in Middle East region
New Delhi (PTI): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday postponed the class 10 and 12 board exams scheduled for March 5 in the Middle East region amid the Iran-Israel conflict, officials said.
"Due to the current situation in parts of the Middle East---Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, the board has decided to postpone class 10, 12 exams on March 5,” said CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj.
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The new dates will be announced later, and for further exams, the situation will be reviewed on March 5, Bhardwaj added.
On Sunday, the board had postponed the exam scheduled on March 2 in the region.
This comes as the Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States on Saturday. His death was confirmed on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump said the heavy and pinpoint bombing of Iran would continue through the week or as long as necessary.
