“I must say that it is a rather mystifying choice."
Anant Ambani has been made a professor of sustainability by Newcastle University.
The university announced Ambani was given a professorship of practice for “his work in conservation, biodiversity protection, animal welfare and environmental stewardship” and “significant contributions to advancing a more sustainable future”.
The son of Mukesh Ambani, Anant Ambani leads on renewable energy on the Reliance Group’s executive board and is worth an estimated £90 billion.
He also founded Vantara, a 3,500-acre private zoo near the family’s oil refining facilities in Gujarat.
Vantara reportedly houses more than 150,000 animals, including 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles. Ambani also hosted his 2024 pre-wedding celebrations at the site, with celebrity guests and politicians attending.
Conservation groups have previously raised questions about how some animals were sourced, particularly given the number of endangered species involved. Vantara has never been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Newcastle University’s announcement has sparked criticism from Indian and international conservationists, environmentalists and academic staff.
Ramachandra Guha, an Indian public intellectual and author of Speaking With Nature: The Origins of Indian Environmentalism, said:
“I must say that it is a rather mystifying choice. As a scholar of Indian and global environmentalism, I can name at least 50, perhaps 100, individuals who are far better qualified to be thus honoured.
“They include soil scientists, energy scientists, water conservation experts, community forest workers, ecologists, pollution abatement experts etc who have made real and tangible contributions to a more sustainable future for India and Indians.
“I wonder on whose advice Newcastle University has acted, and whether it did due diligence on what has and has not been done in these fields.
“Its appointment of Mr Ambani is puzzling in the extreme, and is likely to adversely affect the university’s institutional credibility and intellectual standing.”
Bhuvan Mangalore, an Indian investigator into illegal wildlife trade who is completing a dissertation on Vantara at Anglia Ruskin University, asked: “Is this a joke?”
Professor Matt Perry, chair of the University and College Union branch at Newcastle University, said staff members had objected to the appointment, citing environmental concerns.
Anant Ambani launched Vantara University in April, describing it as the world’s first global university dedicated to wildlife conservation and veterinary science.
The appointment has also drawn criticism over Vantara’s record amid previous investigations into the sourcing of animals.
A 2025 investigation by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung found that many animals delivered to Vantara arrived through countries with opaque wildlife trading networks, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United Arab Emirates.
The investigation raised concerns that endangered species may have been illegally trafficked.
An investigation by India’s Supreme Court in August 2025 lasted less than three weeks and cleared the zoo’s operators of any wrongdoing.
But a subsequent fact-finding mission by Cites found that some permits used to bring animals to Vantara were likely forged.
Its report said: “There is a need for caution to ensure that imports of large numbers of animals by these facilities are not inadvertently creating a demand for illegally sourced animals.”
Cites recommended restrictions on India’s imports of endangered wild animals.
However, it later reversed its decision following objections from India, the US and Japan at a Cites meeting, where they argued there was not enough evidence of illegal imports.
In August 2026, Vantara announced a “reset” of its operations, appointing a former Cites head to oversee its activities. It also said it would voluntarily pause all wildlife imports until June 2027.
The Ambani family and Vantara have previously denied allegations of wildlife trafficking and said:
“Our mission and focus continues to be the rescue, rehabilitation and care of animals.”
A spokesperson for Newcastle University said: “The award of a professorship of practice recognises Mr Ambani’s contributions to conservation, biodiversity protection, animal welfare and environmental stewardship through his work with Vantara, a wildlife rescue and conservation initiative, and as the executive lead for the Reliance Group’s transition toward a green energy future.”
