Madhya Pradesh has signed a deal to set up a new Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Center in Ujjain. The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav between the Madhya Pradesh Tiger Foundation Society and the Green Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre Society (GZRRCS), run under Reliance Foundation by Anant Ambani.
The project promises rehabilitation, conservation, and better care for wild animals. It also plans training programs for forest staff and veterinarians.
But the deal has raised questions. GZRRCS runs the Vanatara project in Jamnagar, Gujarat, praised as a large rescue center but also criticized and investigated for functioning more like a private zoo. The Supreme Court has even ordered probes into its operations. For Madhya Pradesh, which so far has only one recognized rescue center in Bhopal, the stakes are high. On paper, the new project looks like a step toward modern conservation, but on the ground, doubts remain.
Current Situation and Challenges in MP
At present, only the Van Vihar National Park in Bhopal officially functions as a wildlife rescue center. Currently, Van Vihar alone bears the responsibility for the treatment and rehabilitation of injured, sick, and rescued wild animals in the state. This also includes a specialized facility for bear rehabilitation.
Former APCCF (Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests) of Madhya Pradesh, R Sreenivasa Murthy, says on this subject,
“In Madhya Pradesh, Van Vihar (Bhopal) primarily undertakes rescue and rehabilitation work by default. In addition, there are zoos in Gwalior, Indore, and Mukundpur (Satna), which have some limited rescue facilities. The state has about 11 rescue squads working, that include teams from all TRs, Ujjain and Indore (Ralamandal). But Van Vihar developed into a largest and most organized rescue center in the State because of better wild animal housing capacity and facilities.”
However, this situation has long been problematic. Transporting wildlife from different parts of the state to Bhopal takes time, and due to environmental changes, animals also undergo stress. This not only complicates treatment but often endangers the animals’ survival.
For instance, on the night of July 14–15, 2024, three cubs of a tigress were hit by a train near the Pahadi Nala section, close to Midghat railway station, about 70 km from Bhopal. One cub died on the spot, while the other two died during treatment in Bhopal.
The injured cubs had been transported in a special one-coach train to Van Vihar in Bhopal, where treatment was initiated, but they could not be saved. Madhya Pradesh has a vast forest area and also carries the titles of Tiger State, Leopard State, and Vulture State. Despite this, having only one rescue center in faraway Bhopal creates a worrying situation.
That is why the government had announced the establishment of divisional rescue centers in all divisions. Budgets were also approved for new zoological parks in Ujjain and Jabalpur, with plans for rescue and quarantine centers.
However, most of these announcements have not yet taken shape. Critical stages like infrastructure construction and approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) remain pending.
On signing the agreement with GZRRCS, environment activist Ajay Dubey says, “Madhya Pradesh already has a lot of experience in wildlife. We just have less manpower, resources and budget. We should improve it but our government is running after brands and people with money. This is very unfortunate.”
Vanatara: Rescue Center or Private Zoo?
The institution with which Madhya Pradesh has signed this agreement has also had a controversial background. The Vanatara Project in Jamnagar has been promoted as a “world-class rescue and rehabilitation center.” Thousands of animals are housed there, including foreign and rare species.
According to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and CZA rules, only those zoos are valid that are recognized by the Centre and comply with its strict standards. The keeping of foreign species is subject to even stricter restrictions. Despite this, the gigantic scale of Vanatara and the diversity of animals present there have fueled the debate on whether it is truly a rescue center or, in reality, a massive private zoo.
Notably, Vantara is under Special Investigation Team (SIT) scrutiny due to multiple serious allegations including unlawful acquisition of animals from India and abroad, mistreatment of captive animals, financial irregularities, and possible money laundering. The Supreme Court constituted the SIT to independently investigate whether Vantara complied with wildlife protection laws, including adherence to international treaties like CITES, proper veterinary care, and ethical management practices. Concerns have also been raised about Vantara potentially fueling illegal wildlife trade, creating a private collection disguised as a rescue center, and misusing biodiversity resources. The SIT investigation aims to verify these claims impartially and report by September 2025.
Dubey says that until the Supreme Court is investigating this organization and it does not get a clean chit, the Madhya Pradesh government should not have entered into any kind of agreement with him.
On the other hand, the CZA guidelines are clear: any zoo or rescue center must strictly follow standards related to animal care, enclosure design, breeding programs, and welfare. The rules state that no sick or injured animals can be displayed in recognized zoos; species must be kept in appropriate social groups; and high standards of diet, hygiene, and veterinary care must be ensured. Moreover, the number of exotic species cannot exceed 10 percent of the total collection.
In such a situation, the big question is: when the Madhya Pradesh forest department partners with an institution like Vanatara, has it ensured compliance with these permissions and guidelines?
Corporate Intervention or a New Model of Conservation?
The involvement of Reliance Foundation and Anant Ambani through Vanatara also raises concerns about whether wildlife conservation is being reshaped to suit corporate interests. When private institutions deeply enter state-managed frameworks in the name of conservation, the questions of transparency and accountability grow even sharper.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, at the signing of the MoU in late August 2025, emphasized the state’s focus on wildlife and institutional strengthening, saying: “New wildlife rescue centres will be established across Madhya Pradesh”
Several issues regarding the Ujjain project remain unanswered. For instance, why have the financial terms of the agreement not been made public? From where will the new animals for this park come, and under what rules? And will this initiative genuinely help injured and distressed wildlife, or will it simply turn into an attractive zoo?
Dubey also expresses doubts about this agreement made in haste. He says that it has to be seen whether any financial irregularity is being done through this?
India’s wildlife conservation laws and rules clearly state that zoos and rescue centers are not established merely for entertainment but for conservation, breeding, and education.
Murthy says on this subject,
“The purpose of a zoo is ex-situ conservation where animal exhibiting facilities are created there by promoting nature education. The purpose of a rescue center is to treat and rehabilitate injured or conflict-affected animals. You cannot ‘exhibit’ animals in a rescue center.”
For a state like Madhya Pradesh, which has a large number of tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, the need for rescue and rehabilitation becomes even more critical. While private partnerships may increase capacity, it must also be ensured that this does not become merely a tool for corporate branding and control.
Highlighting the importance of zoos, Murthy further adds,
“Ex-situ conservation is important because if a species faces an epidemic or crisis in its natural habitat, we retain a safe ‘genetic pool’ through zoos and captive breeding. Additionally, after disasters, these animals can be reintroduced into the wild if necessary.”
Chief Minister Yadav has also reiterated that “these won’t be traditional zoos. They will become centres dedicated to the conservation and rehabilitation of wildlife”
However, Dubey calls the size of these zoos small and questions their quality. It is worth noting that the proposed zoo in Ujjain will be spread over about 80 hectares. Whereas in Jabalpur, the zoo will be developed in 263.046 hectares.
The agreement on the Ujjain Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Center currently appears to be a major step in the field of wildlife conservation. However, several serious questions remain. Vanatara’s controversial background, alignment with CZA rules, financial transparency, and the actual safety of animals, all are issues whose answers are still awaited.
Unless it is ensured that this initiative is not just a tool of attraction or branding but a true means of conservation, it cannot be considered free from doubt.
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