Jamnagar, Gujarat: Vantara has announced the full membership of its newly established independent Governing Council, marking a significant step in its efforts to strengthen oversight of wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, conservation and compliance activities.
The new council brings together senior figures from India and abroad with backgrounds spanning wildlife conservation, environmental law, international wildlife trade, veterinary science, wildlife crime, human-wildlife conflict, institutional governance and community-based conservation.
Vantara said the council will serve as its highest governing body and will have broad responsibility for overseeing the organisation’s conservation and rescue activities, monitoring compliance with Indian laws and international agreements, and helping shape its vision for the next five years and beyond.
One of the council’s important responsibilities will be to review any future proposals involving the import of wild animals. Under Vantara’s recently announced governance reforms, no application to import an animal will be submitted before June 5, 2027. After that date, any application that falls within the circumstances covered by Vantara’s commitments will require prior written approval from the independent Governing Council.
The council will also oversee an internal due diligence process before such an application can move forward.
The announcement comes as Vantara Jamnagar seeks to reinforce its approach to transparency, independent oversight and responsible wildlife conservation. The organisation has said that its future operations will place greater emphasis on compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, commonly known as CITES, while increasing its focus on conservation and wildlife support within India and in the natural range states of species.
Five-member council supported by an ex officio member
The newly established Governing Council consists of five voting members, supported by one ex officio, non-voting member.
The group is chaired by John E. Scanlon AO, a prominent international environmental and wildlife conservation expert and former Secretary-General of CITES. His appointment as the council’s independent chair was announced in August 2026.
Scanlon will work alongside former Supreme Court of India judge Justice Krishna Murari, international wildlife conservation expert Craig Hoover, senior Indian Forest Service officer and former Karnataka Chief Wildlife Warden Subhash K. Malkhede, and Ethiopian-Italian conservation specialist Greta F. Iori.
The council’s ex officio, non-voting member is Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, an Indian wildlife veterinarian and internationally recognised elephant specialist.
According to Vantara, its employees cannot serve as voting members of the Governing Council. The council members will instead serve in their individual and independent professional capacities.
This structure is intended to give the body a degree of independence in reviewing Vantara’s policies, conservation programmes, compliance systems and future decisions.
John E. Scanlon to lead the Governing Council
John E. Scanlon AO has been appointed as the independent Chair of the Governing Council.
Scanlon has spent decades working in environmental governance, wildlife conservation, international environmental law and sustainable development. His career includes senior positions connected with international conservation institutions and environmental authorities.
He previously served as Secretary-General of CITES, the international agreement that regulates international trade in wild animals, plants and products derived from them.
His professional experience also includes work with the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. He has also held positions with environmental authorities in Australia.
Scanlon has served as a trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and previously chaired the UK Government’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund Advisory Group.
His current roles include Chair of the Global Initiative to End Wildlife Crime and Executive President of the International Council of Environmental Law.
In 2019, Scanlon was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his contribution to wildlife conservation and protection. He has also received several other honours, including the Chinese Government Friendship Award, the University of Adelaide Distinguished Alumni Award, the Financial Crime Fighter of the Year Award and UNEP’s Baobab Award for Innovation.
His experience in international wildlife policy and the CITES framework is expected to be particularly relevant to the council as Vantara implements its recently announced commitments concerning wildlife imports and conservation practices.
John Scanlon says council will help shape Vantara’s future
Following the announcement, Scanlon said the Governing Council would have a central role in determining Vantara’s future direction and ensuring that the changes recently announced by the organisation become part of its day-to-day operations.
He said the council brings together people with strong professional backgrounds, extensive experience and credibility in different areas of conservation and governance.
Scanlon also highlighted the combination of Indian and international expertise within the new body.
He said the council would work closely with Vantara staff and the wider conservation community with the aim of creating a lasting and positive impact on wildlife conservation.
The appointment of Scanlon as chair gives the council a leader with direct experience of international wildlife governance and the global system governing the trade in endangered species.
Justice Krishna Murari brings judicial and governance experience
Former Supreme Court of India judge Justice Krishna Murari is another key member of the new Governing Council.
Justice Murari was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2019 and served on the country’s highest court until his retirement in 2023. His judicial career lasted more than two decades.
Before being elevated to the Supreme Court, he served as Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He had earlier served as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, one of India’s oldest and largest High Courts.
Before entering the judiciary, Justice Murari practised law in Allahabad. His legal work included civil, constitutional, corporate and revenue matters.
During his time on the bench, he dealt with a broad range of constitutional, commercial and public-law matters. His experience includes questions involving governance, institutional accountability, regulatory frameworks and judicial oversight.
For Vantara, his background is particularly relevant to the council’s responsibility for institutional oversight and compliance.
Justice Murari holds a law degree from Allahabad University and was enrolled as an advocate in 1981.
His presence on the council provides expertise in law and governance at a time when Vantara is seeking to strengthen its internal compliance and accountability mechanisms.
Craig Hoover to join the council in January 2027
International wildlife conservation and wildlife trade expert Craig Hoover has also been appointed to the Governing Council.
Hoover currently serves as Executive Vice President of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, widely known as AZA. His work with the organisation has involved an extensive network of zoological institutions in the United States and internationally.
His professional career spans more than 25 years and has focused heavily on international wildlife conservation, wildlife trade and regulatory policy.
Before joining AZA in 2019, Hoover held senior positions with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Among his roles were Chief of the Division of International Conservation and Chief of the Division of Management Authority, which serves as the US CITES Management Authority.
He also worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement and served as Deputy Director of TRAFFIC North America.
During his federal government career, Hoover was involved in overseeing more than $300 million in international conservation grants. He also played an active role in US efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
His work included measures addressing the illegal trade in elephant ivory, rhino horn and other protected wildlife.
Hoover holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School.
He will begin his term on the Vantara Governing Council in January 2027, after completing his tenure with AZA.
His experience with zoos, wildlife trade regulations, international conservation programmes and CITES-related matters is expected to add another important layer of expertise to the council.
Subhash K. Malkhede brings Indian wildlife field experience
The council also includes senior Indian Forest Service officer Subhash K. Malkhede, who has extensive experience in wildlife conservation and forest administration.
Malkhede has served as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka.
In those positions, he was responsible for the management and protection of some of India’s important wildlife landscapes.
His work has covered protected-area management, endangered species conservation, wildlife crime, human-wildlife conflict and enforcement of wildlife laws.
Malkhede has been involved in conservation programmes concerning elephants, tigers, leopards and critically endangered bird species.
He has also supported efforts to modernise wildlife law enforcement, including the use of technology to improve monitoring and investigation of forest and wildlife offences.
His career combines experience in the field with senior-level responsibility for conservation policy and regulatory oversight.
For Vantara Jamnagar, his knowledge of India’s wildlife laws, protected areas and conservation challenges provides an important domestic perspective within a council that otherwise includes several international experts.
His experience with human-wildlife conflict is also significant because managing interactions between people and wild animals remains one of the major challenges facing wildlife conservation in India.
Greta F. Iori adds expertise in African conservation
Greta Francesca Iori brings more than 15 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, wildlife policy, sustainable development and international cooperation.
The Ethiopian-Italian conservation specialist has worked extensively on wildlife crime, human-wildlife coexistence, community conservation and environmental governance.
Iori currently serves as Director of Global Partnerships at Daughters for Earth and Strategic Lead for WE Move at Women for the Environment Africa.
She previously held senior positions with Conservation International and the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation. In those roles, she worked on programmes and government engagement across 25 African countries.
Her professional experience includes work on human-elephant coexistence, illegal wildlife trade and community-led conservation.
She has also worked with organisations and institutions including the Wildlife Conservation Society, Born Free Foundation, GIZ and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Iori is a member of the IUCN Human-Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Specialist Group. She also serves on China’s Expert Committee on Asian Elephant Conservation and is a Special Advisor to the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority.
Her background gives the council an international perspective on the challenges faced by communities living alongside wildlife.
It also brings specific experience in involving local communities in conservation efforts, an area that has become increasingly important in modern wildlife protection.
Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma to serve as ex officio member
The council will be supported by Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, who will serve as an ex officio, non-voting member.
Dr Sarma is a well-known Indian wildlife veterinarian and elephant specialist with decades of experience in the treatment, management and conservation of Asian elephants.
He previously served as Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery and Radiology at the College of Veterinary Science in Guwahati, Assam.
His career has involved extensive work with both wild and captive elephants across India.
Dr Sarma has participated in elephant rescue, rehabilitation, translocation and human-elephant conflict management programmes.
His work combines veterinary medicine with practical conservation and field experience. He has advised government authorities and conservation organisations on elephant health and welfare.
He has also played a role in training veterinarians and wildlife professionals.
Although Dr Sarma will be part of the council, he will not have voting rights. His role will provide specialist veterinary and elephant-related expertise to the council’s deliberations.
Vantara says independent oversight is central to its reforms
Vantara CEO Vivaan Karani welcomed the appointment of the new Governing Council members.
Karani said the council would be instrumental in shaping Vantara’s future direction and ensuring that the organisation operates according to high standards as it advances its science-led conservation work.
He also said the council’s independent authority was an important part of Vantara’s efforts to implement commitments made in its letter to the Indian CITES Management Authority.
According to Karani, independent oversight will ensure that decisions made by Vantara are subject to a rigorous review process.
The announcement therefore represents more than a change in organisational structure. It forms part of a broader set of governance reforms that Vantara has voluntarily introduced.
What will the Vantara Governing Council do?
The Governing Council has been established as Vantara’s peak governing body.
Its responsibilities will cover several major areas of the organisation’s operations.
These include oversight of conservation work, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation programmes, compliance with Indian law and adherence to CITES and other relevant international agreements.
The council will also help define Vantara’s long-term direction.
One of its most important responsibilities will involve future applications to import wild animals.
Vantara has announced that it will not submit an application to import an animal before June 5, 2027.
After that date, additional commitments concerning animal imports will come into effect. Where an application is permitted under those commitments, it cannot proceed without prior written approval from the Governing Council.
The council will conduct or oversee an internal due diligence process before giving such approval.
This means that decisions involving future wildlife imports will not simply be handled through Vantara’s internal operational structure.
Instead, they will be subject to independent review by a body whose voting members are not Vantara employees.
New governance structure includes multiple oversight bodies
The Governing Council is not the only new mechanism introduced as part of Vantara’s governance reforms.
The organisation has also established a CITES Due Diligence Committee and an Advisory Board.
In addition, Vantara has appointed a Special Director and established an Office of Compliance and Due Diligence.
These structures are intended to work alongside the Governing Council and strengthen the processes used to assess conservation activities, wildlife movements, regulatory requirements and potential risks.
Vantara has said that details of these mechanisms are included in its letter to the Indian CITES Management Authority.
The council will continually review progress against the commitments outlined in that letter.
The aim is to ensure that the commitments are not merely announced publicly but are incorporated into the organisation’s actual operating practices.
Vantara’s August 2026 letter forms an important part of the reforms
The Governing Council will review Vantara’s progress against the commitments contained in its letter to the Indian CITES Management Authority dated August 19, 2026.
That letter forms an important part of the organisation’s wider governance reforms.
Vantara has stated that the reforms are intended to improve transparency, strengthen due diligence and reinforce its operating standards.
The organisation has also emphasised adherence to CITES and a greater focus on supporting wildlife in the countries and regions where species naturally occur.
At the same time, Vantara says its work will continue to prioritise rescue, rehabilitation and conservation within India.
The approach reflects an effort to balance wildlife rescue and animal welfare with broader conservation objectives.
Greater focus on conservation within natural range states
One of the notable elements of Vantara’s commitments is the stated shift towards supporting wildlife conservation in the natural range states of species.
Wildlife conservation increasingly involves more than caring for individual animals in protected facilities. Long-term conservation depends on protecting habitats, supporting local communities, reducing wildlife crime and maintaining viable wild populations.
The new council includes people with experience across these different areas.
For example, Malkhede brings experience in Indian protected-area management and wildlife law enforcement, while Iori has worked extensively on community conservation and human-wildlife coexistence in Africa.
Hoover brings knowledge of international wildlife trade and zoo and aquarium standards, while Scanlon has extensive experience in international wildlife governance and CITES.
Dr Sarma contributes specialist knowledge in veterinary care and elephant conservation.
Together, the council’s composition covers a broad range of issues relevant to modern wildlife conservation.
Vantara plans deeper engagement with the conservation community
Vantara has also indicated that it wants to strengthen its engagement with the wider conservation community.
The organisation says the Governing Council will consider creating a mechanism that allows ongoing dialogue with conservation professionals working in the field.
Such a mechanism could provide an opportunity for experts and organisations outside Vantara to share knowledge, ideas and perspectives.
Vantara has said the council will seek feedback from stakeholders before deciding on the best way to establish this engagement.
The proposed dialogue is intended to create a more open exchange between Vantara and people involved in conservation work outside the organisation.
This could be particularly relevant as Vantara continues to develop its programmes and implement its governance commitments.
Why the new council matters for Vantara Jamnagar
The establishment of the council gives Vantara Jamnagar a new layer of independent governance at a time when the organisation is expanding its focus on conservation standards, regulatory compliance and transparency.
Vantara’s operations in Jamnagar have attracted international attention because of the scale and diversity of its wildlife rescue and rehabilitation activities.
With experts from the fields of environmental law, international wildlife trade, forest management, wildlife crime, community conservation, zoological standards and veterinary medicine, the new council has been designed to provide oversight across a wide range of issues.
The inclusion of both Indian and international specialists is also significant.
Wildlife conservation frequently involves national laws as well as international agreements. Animals may also be affected by issues such as cross-border wildlife trade, trafficking, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
As a result, the council’s combined expertise could allow Vantara to assess its activities from multiple perspectives.
Independent members will serve in their personal capacities
Vantara has clarified that members of the Governing Council will serve in an independent personal capacity.
This distinction is important because voting members will not be Vantara employees.
The organisation has specifically stated that its employees cannot be voting members of the council.
The arrangement is intended to create a separation between Vantara’s operational management and the independent body responsible for high-level oversight.
That separation will be particularly relevant when the council reviews issues involving compliance, future wildlife imports or implementation of Vantara’s voluntary commitments.
A council with Indian and international expertise
The composition of the council reflects the international nature of modern wildlife conservation.
John Scanlon provides experience at the highest levels of international wildlife policy and CITES.
Justice Krishna Murari brings decades of legal and judicial experience.
Craig Hoover contributes knowledge of international conservation, wildlife trade and zoological institutions.
Subhash K. Malkhede provides experience from India’s forest and wildlife administration system.
Greta Iori contributes expertise in community conservation, wildlife crime and human-wildlife coexistence, particularly across Africa.
Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma adds specialist knowledge in wildlife veterinary care and Asian elephant conservation.
Together, their backgrounds cover policy, law, enforcement, animal welfare, conservation science, international cooperation and community engagement.
Science-led conservation remains a stated priority
Vantara CEO Vivaan Karani has described science-led conservation as a key part of the organisation’s future approach.
The new governance structure is intended to support that objective by bringing independent specialists into the organisation’s highest level of oversight.
Scientific conservation increasingly depends on evidence-based decision-making, specialist veterinary care, habitat protection, population management and careful assessment of the impact of human activity on wildlife.
The expertise represented on the new council spans many of these areas.
The organisation’s stated objective is therefore not limited to wildlife rescue but extends to broader conservation and institutional practices.
Future wildlife import applications face additional scrutiny
The council’s role in approving future animal import applications is one of the clearest examples of the new oversight framework.
Vantara has committed not to submit any application to import an animal before June 5, 2027.
Following that date, applications will also be subject to the commitments announced by the organisation regarding circumstances in which it will not apply to import animals.
Where an application is eligible to proceed, it will require written approval from the Governing Council.
The approval will come only after an internal due diligence process.
This introduces a formal review stage between Vantara’s operational decision-making and any future application involving the international movement of wildlife.
Compliance with CITES remains a central issue
CITES is a major part of the new governance framework.
The international agreement regulates international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants to ensure that such trade does not threaten the survival of species.
Because several members of Vantara’s Governing Council have direct experience with CITES and wildlife trade regulation, the council has substantial expertise in this area.
John Scanlon’s previous role as CITES Secretary-General is particularly notable, while Craig Hoover has served as Chief of the US CITES Management Authority.
Their combined experience gives the council considerable knowledge of international wildlife trade regulations and compliance.
Vantara has said its new systems will emphasise adherence to CITES and stronger due diligence.
Looking beyond rescue and rehabilitation
Wildlife rescue is one part of Vantara’s work, but the organisation’s new commitments indicate a broader conservation strategy.
The emphasis includes rehabilitation, conservation within India and support for wildlife in natural range states.
That broader approach recognises that rescued animals and captive care are only one component of conservation.
Protecting species in the wild requires work on habitat, wildlife crime, local communities, veterinary health, human-wildlife conflict and effective enforcement.
The expertise of the new council reflects these different dimensions.
Its members have experience ranging from protecting elephants and other endangered species to combating wildlife trafficking and strengthening environmental governance.
Also read: Vantara and Indonesia Launch Major Wildlife Health and Conservation Partnership
What lies ahead for Vantara
The establishment of the independent Governing Council is expected to play a major role in Vantara’s next phase.
The council has been tasked with helping determine the organisation’s vision for the next five years and beyond while supervising the implementation of its recently announced reforms.
Its responsibilities will include monitoring progress against the commitments made to India’s CITES Management Authority and reviewing whether those commitments are being properly incorporated into Vantara’s operations.
The organisation has also signalled that engagement with the broader conservation community will become an important part of the process.
As Vantara continues its conservation and wildlife rescue activities in Jamnagar, the effectiveness of these new governance mechanisms will likely be judged by how consistently they are applied in practice.
For now, the organisation says the new structure is designed to provide greater transparency, stronger due diligence and independent scrutiny.
With an experienced group of Indian and international specialists now in place, Vantara Jamnagar is entering its next phase with a governance model that places independent oversight at the centre of its conservation and wildlife management activities.
Also read: GENERAL JOHN E SCANLON Appointed Independent Chair of Vantara’s Governing Council