The Vantara zoo in Gujarat, sprawling over 3,500 acres and managed by the philanthropy wing of Mukesh Ambani's Reliance family, was under the global spotlight recently. This zoo is home to nearly 2,000 animal species, including exotic creatures like snakes, tortoises, tigers, giraffes, and spiny-tailed lizards from places such as South Africa, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Earlier, a tough draft from CITES – the UN body protecting endangered species trade – had asked India to completely stop giving import permits to Vantara. They claimed there were mismatches in export-import data and that checks on the animals' origins were missing. This stirred worries and caused scrutiny from Germany and the European Union. However, at the CITES meeting held in Uzbekistan on Sunday, the scene changed dramatically. Countries like India, the United States, Japan, and Brazil spoke up, calling the ban 'too early' and pointing out that no clear proof of illegal imports was found. "There doesn't seem to be enough support for retaining (the) recommendation," said Naimah Aziz, Chair of the CITES Standing Committee. India firmly stood by its commitment to follow CITES rules. Though Belgium and a wildlife group called Pan African Sanctuary Alliance wanted to keep the ban until concerns were solved, the majority voted to reverse the decision. Notably, a September report by India's Supreme Court investigation cleared Vantara of any wrongdoing. Still, the European Environment Commissioner, Jessika Roswall, said in August the EU would watch export requests to India very closely. Vantara has shown it follows the law and said it wants to be transparent about its animal imports. For now, the zoo can continue its work bringing rare and endangered animals to India, easing the storm for Mukesh Ambani's family-run giant sanctuary. But the global watch will definitely continue!