New Delhi: India’s 2026-27 Union Budget delivered a major policy shift on customs duties that could reshape the future of one of the nation’s largest private wildlife conservation initiatives. As part of efforts to rationalize tax exemptions, the government has withdrawn the previous duty waiver on live animals and birds imported by zoos, imposing a 30 percent basic customs duty (BCD) on such imports effective Feb. 2, 2026. This move is widely seen as a significant setback for the Vantara animal rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre, the high-profile project backed by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Foundation.
In the annual budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced targeted reviews of tax exemptions, including those that had become outdated or less necessary due to rising domestic capabilities. Among the entries removed from the customs tariff’s concessional list was the nil-duty provision for animals and birds imported by zoos a concession that had previously enabled Vantara to bring in exotic wildlife without basic customs duties. Under the updated tariff schedule, these imports will now attract a 30 percent levy, aligning them with other general categories of imported goods.
Government documents show this change reflects a broader review of exemptions designed to simplify tariff structures and promote self-sufficiency in areas ranging from manufacturing to specialized imports. While some duty cuts were introduced elsewhere such as a reduction in personal import duties the specific exemption for zoo imports was struck out entirely.
Situated on around 3,500 acres in Jamnagar, Gujarat, Vantara has positioned itself as a flagship conservation hub, housing roughly 2,000 species of animals many of which have been brought from countries including South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela since 2022. The facility, run by the Reliance Foundation, had until now operated under the customs duty exemption, allowing it to import rare and exotic species for rehabilitation without the burden of basic duties.
With the exemption now removed, legal and tax analysts say the operating cost structure for such imports could rise sharply, potentially affecting future rescue missions and international partnerships. “Even large, globally benchmarked zoological and conservation projects, including facilities such as Vantara, will be affected,” noted Rajat Mohan, a senior partner at an Indian law firm, underlining the financial implications of the policy shift.
Although Vantara has previously told media that it does not pay commercial consideration for animals and only incurs freight and insurance costs, the imposition of duty adds a new layer of expense to its international transfers. A Reuters analysis suggests that Vantara’s animal imports declared so far have a value in the multi-million-dollar range, with recent consignments such as rare parrots from Germany previously benefiting from the tax break now abolished.
Officials have not publicly detailed specific reasons for scrapping the zoo import exemption. Government messaging around the budget stresses a push toward domestic capability building and the removal of “old duty exemptions” that may no longer align with current economic priorities. Critics argue that this reasoning may inadvertently hamper legitimate conservation efforts that rely on cross-border cooperation, particularly in specialized rescue scenarios.
Supporters of the tariff revision, however, view it as a measure to encourage local breeding programs and reduce import dependence. The broader context of the budget which includes both tax rationalizations and targeted exemptions on items like certain medical imports reflects the government’s attempt to balance growth, self-reliance and trade facilitation.
Vantara’s operations have not been without controversy. In late 2025, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) raised concerns over discrepancies between reported export and import data of wildlife traded with the centre, prompting scrutiny from several European authorities. These concerns were later walked back after international objections, while India’s Supreme Court cleared the facility of wrongdoing. Nonetheless, Vantara’s high profile including visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and global celebrities has made it a focal point for debate on private ownership of expansive conservation facilities.
With the customs duty change now law, stakeholders in conservation and wildlife management will be watching how it affects future collaborations, import activity and domestic breeding initiatives. Whether Vantara adapts by increasing local breeding or reconfiguring its international outreach remains to be seen. But for now, the Ambani family’s ambitious zoo project faces a new financial and operational test as it adjusts to a post-exemption tax environment.