In 2023, the Yerevan Zoo sent 14 brown bears and 12 griffon vultures to India. The animals were transported to the Vantara center. An investigation by EVN Report has revealed that this was a mass transfer of animals listed in the Red Book, carried out without proper public notification.
Environmental journalist Mariam Tashchyan notes that the zoo also had permits to export three Turkmen kulans and four Przewalski's horses. However, they did not cross the border. One kulan and three horses died during the preparation phase for the transfer. Official documents cited "technical issues" as the reason.
The Yerevan Municipality stated that after the donation, the animals were removed from the zoo's balance sheet. According to them, the zoo is not responsible for the animals' deaths. Meanwhile, experts emphasize that the Przewalski's horse is an endangered species. There are only 178 wild individuals left in the world. The loss of such animals is a global concern.
Vantara is a project by Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani. It is a 3,000-acre center located in Jamnagar. International critics point out that the center is aggressively acquiring animals from all over the world.
It has been revealed that Vantara also receives animals from private companies operating in Armenia. One of them, Paradise Animals, is linked to individuals suspected of smuggling. Ten steppe eagles, two red wolves, and 30 aoudads were also sent to the center from Armenia. The journalist emphasizes that all of this is based on official legalization and a suspicious commercial network.
