UK Defra officials met with a Vantara representative and Checkmate Government Relations before a meeting, where Checkmate argued that the responsibility for verifying legality lies with exporting or re-exporting parties rather than India as importer.

Anant Ambani, Mukesh Ambani’s heir, runs Vantara, a 1,400-hectare private zoo in Gujarat housing over 150,000 animals since 2022, which has drawn conservation scrutiny over animal sourcing.

Vantara later invited UK officials to visit the zoo, but the invitation was declined to preserve impartiality.

After the meeting, Atlas Strategy approached UK politicians about a potential visit to Vantara, with concerns raised about a falcon import application and a donation of £50,000.

Documents obtained under the UK Freedom of Information Act show Vantara attempting to influence British officials and ministers before the CITES meeting.

In response to scrutiny, Vantara suspended animal imports for a year and hired John Scanlon, a former CITES chief, to oversee operations.

Defra emphasized UK rules to ensure legal and sustainable wildlife trade and careful assessment of each application.

Ambani has framed his conservation work as legitimate and welfare-focused; Vantara has hosted pre-wedding events and Ambani received a professorship from Newcastle University amid controversy.

Vantara states it did not import falcons from the UK, nor hire or pay lobbying firms; Checkmate and Atlas Strategy reportedly worked pro bono and without mandatory lobbying registration.

A UK-led 32-country CITES committee meeting in Geneva is examining India’s compliance with importing endangered species, with Vantara lobbying prior to the meeting.

A UK ministerial briefing advised ministers not to engage formally with Vantara to maintain impartiality in the CITES chair role.