India has appealed to the United Nations’ wildlife trade body, CITES, to refrain from imposing restrictions on its imports of endangered species. This comes amid allegations of improper animal shipments to Vantara, a sprawling 3,500-acre zoo in Gujarat, operated by the philanthropic arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s conglomerate. The zoo has faced scrutiny from authorities in Germany and the European Union over claims of irregular imports. Despite a Supreme Court-appointed panel clearing Vantara of wrongdoing in September, CITES recently urged India to review its import procedures, citing discrepancies in trade data and insufficient checks on animal origins. In a submission dated November 10, India argued that any restrictive measures would be premature and disproportionate, potentially destabilizing the CITES framework. The government emphasized that it has already tightened oversight, including enhanced due diligence for all future acquisitions. Vantara, home to 2,000 species, including exotic animals from South Africa, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, maintains that all imports comply with regulations. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between wildlife conservation efforts and the operations of private zoos.