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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Goa nightclub fire: Owners Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra fled to Phuket after tragedy, say police
Panaji (PTI): Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, the main accused and owners of the Goa nightclub where a massive blaze claimed 25 lives, fled to Phuket hours after the tragedy, Goa Police said on Monday.
"Goa Police have taken further steps to coordinate with the Interpol Division of the CBI to apprehend both Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra at the earliest," a senior police officer said.
A massive fire at the nightclub, some 25 kilometres away from Panaji, on late Saturday night killed 25 persons. The deceased comprised 20 employees of the nightclub and five tourists, including four from Delhi. Five injured people were undergoing treatment at the government-run Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
After registering an FIR against them, a Look Out Circular was issued against them by December 7 by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI) at the request of the Goa Police.
The Bureau of Immigration at Mumbai was contacted, and it was found that both the accused had taken the 6E 1073 flight to Phuket at 5.30 am on December 7, immediately after the fire incident, which occurred around midnight, the officer said.
READ ALSO: Goa nightclub fire: Owner Saurabh Luthra expresses grief, assures management support
He said the Goa Police had immediately dispatched a team to Delhi to conduct raids on the addresses of the accused Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra.
"Since they were not available, a notice under the appropriate sections of law was pasted on the gate of their house. This shows their intent to avoid the police investigation", he said.
Goa Police have obtained transit remand of Bharat Kohli, an employee of the club, and are bringing him to Goa.
He also said that the postmortem on all 25 deceased has been completed and bodies handed over to their families.
