India Investigate Illegal Animal Imports At The Zoo Managed By Asia's Richest Man

Illustration of one rhino protected in a zoo (bonbin). (Unsplash-Nico Knaack)

JAKARTA - India's Supreme Court has ordered an investigation into allegations of importing illegal animals and money laundering in a large private zoo founded by the son of the richest man in Asia.

Citing AFP, Tuesday, August 26, the bonbin, Vantara Star of the Forest, is managed by Anant Ambani, the son of Mukesh Ambani, a billionaire and leader of the multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries.

According to the Indian Central Zoo Authority, Vantara, located in Gujarat state, is home to more than 200 elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, 900 crocodiles, and other animals.

Indian wildlife activists criticized the facility for harboring endangered species in the arid plains next to the giant oil refinery complex without plans to return them to the wild.

And on Monday local time, India's Supreme Court said it had ordered enforcement teams filled with retired judges to investigate alleged imports of illegal animals, especially elephants and other wildlife regulations, including alleged money laundering.

"We consider it appropriate... to call for an independent factual assessment," the Indian Supreme Court wrote.