Jamnagar: Vantara, the wildlife welfare and conservation organisation based in Jamnagar, Gujarat, has announced the full membership of its newly established independent Governing Council. The council will take on a key oversight role covering wildlife conservation, rescue, rehabilitation, legal compliance and the organisation’s long-term plans.
The formation of the council marks a significant step in strengthening the governance framework of Vantara. The newly appointed members bring experience from wildlife policy, environmental governance, law, institutional oversight, wildlife crime control, veterinary science and community-based conservation.
The council will also have the authority to take the final decision on any future applications relating to the import of wild animals. In addition, it will be responsible for helping shape Vantara’s vision and roadmap for the next five years and beyond.
Independent body to oversee Vantara’s key activities
According to the announcement, the Governing Council consists of five voting members and one ex-officio, non-voting member. The members have been selected for their national and international experience in areas directly connected with wildlife conservation and governance.
A key feature of the new structure is that all council members will serve independently and in their individual capacities. No active Vantara employee will serve as a voting member of the council.
The independent structure is intended to provide external oversight of the organisation’s activities while ensuring that important decisions concerning wildlife, conservation practices and compliance are examined by experienced professionals.
The council’s responsibilities will cover Vantara’s wildlife rescue and rehabilitation work, conservation programmes and compliance-related matters. It will also play a central role in reviewing the organisation’s future direction.
John E. Scanlon AO appointed as independent chair
John E. Scanlon AO, a prominent expert in environmental governance and international wildlife policy, will serve as the independent chair of the Governing Council. His appointment was made in August 2026.
Scanlon previously served as Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), giving him extensive experience in international wildlife regulation and environmental governance.
His work in wildlife conservation and environmental policy has earned him several honours, including appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his services to wildlife conservation.
As chair, Scanlon is expected to play a central role in guiding the council’s work and ensuring that its oversight responsibilities remain focused on conservation, governance and transparency.
Justice Krishna Murari brings judicial and governance experience
Another important member of the council is Justice Krishna Murari, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India and former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Justice Murari brings more than two decades of experience in law, governance and institutional oversight. His background in the judiciary is expected to add a strong legal and governance perspective to the council’s work.
His presence on the independent body is particularly relevant to the council’s responsibility for overseeing legal compliance and institutional processes at Vantara.
Craig Hoover to join from January 2027
Craig Hoover, Executive Vice President of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), is also among the members of the new Governing Council.
Hoover has around three decades of experience in wildlife conservation. Before his current role, he held senior positions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, giving him substantial experience in wildlife management, conservation policy and regulatory matters.
His term on the Vantara Governing Council will begin in January 2027.
With his background in wildlife institutions and conservation administration, Hoover is expected to contribute an international perspective to the council’s work.
Subhash K. Malkhede brings field-level wildlife experience
The council also includes Subhash K. Malkhede, a senior Indian Forest Service officer and former Chief Wildlife Warden of Karnataka.
Malkhede has extensive field experience in wildlife conservation and the enforcement of wildlife laws. His work has involved the protection of endangered species, including Asian elephants, tigers and cheetahs.
His practical experience in forest administration and wildlife law enforcement is expected to provide the council with an important ground-level perspective on conservation challenges.
Greta F. Iori’s experience spans more than 25 African countries
Greta F. Iori, an Ethiopian-Italian conservation specialist, is another member of the independent council.
Iori has more than 15 years of experience working in biodiversity conservation, human-animal coexistence and women’s leadership. Her work has taken her across more than 25 countries in Africa.
Her international experience in conservation and coexistence between communities and wildlife is expected to broaden the council’s perspective on global conservation practices and community participation.
Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma to serve as ex-officio member
The council will also include Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma as an ex-officio, non-voting member.
A Padma Shri award recipient and a recognised Asian elephant expert and wildlife veterinarian from Assam, Dr. Sarma has spent much of his career working in wildlife veterinary science and elephant conservation.
He is a former Professor and Head of the Department of Surgery at the College of Veterinary Science in Guwahati.
His veterinary and wildlife expertise is expected to contribute to discussions involving animal health, rescue, rehabilitation and conservation, although he will serve as a non-voting member of the council.
Strict rules introduced for future wildlife imports
Alongside the creation of the Governing Council, Vantara has announced stricter internal rules concerning the possible import of wild animals.
As part of its governance reforms, Vantara will not submit any official application to import wildlife before June 5, 2027.
Even after that date, the process will not be allowed to move forward without the council’s prior written approval and completion of a stringent internal review process.
The new framework places additional oversight around any future wildlife import proposal. The council will therefore have an important role in examining such proposals before any application can proceed.
Council to monitor voluntary commitments made by Vantara
The new Governing Council will also monitor the implementation of voluntary commitments made by Vantara.
The organisation had communicated these commitments in a letter sent to the Indian CITES Management Authority on August 19, 2026. The council will keep a continuing watch over the implementation of those commitments.
This monitoring responsibility adds another layer of independent oversight to Vantara’s governance structure and is intended to ensure that the organisation follows through on the commitments it has made.
John Scanlon outlines council’s role
Commenting on the new structure, Governing Council Chairman John Scanlon said the council would work closely with Vantara’s staff and the wider conservation community.
He said the council would take its responsibility seriously in helping shape Vantara’s future vision and in contributing to positive change in wildlife conservation at the global level.
The statement underlines the council’s intended role not simply as an internal management body, but as an independent group bringing expertise from across the international conservation and governance community.
Vantara CEO welcomes the new council
Vantara CEO Vivan Karani welcomed all members of the newly formed Governing Council.
Karani said the council’s independent authority would be important in helping Vantara move forward while maintaining high scientific standards and transparency.
He also highlighted the council’s role in monitoring the implementation of Vantara’s voluntary commitments submitted to the Indian CITES Management Authority in August 2026.
The formation of the independent council therefore represents a new governance phase for Vantara, with experienced professionals from law, wildlife policy, conservation, veterinary science and environmental governance taking responsibility for independent oversight.
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A new governance framework for Vantara
With five voting members and one non-voting ex-officio member, the Governing Council brings together expertise from India and abroad. Its responsibilities extend from wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation to legal compliance, future planning and decisions concerning potential wildlife imports.
The council’s independent composition is also significant because active Vantara employees will not hold voting positions. This structure is designed to give the body an external and independent oversight role.
For Vantara, the establishment of the council comes with a clearly defined focus on governance, transparency and scientific standards. Its work over the coming years will help determine how the organisation develops its conservation programmes and long-term roadmap.
The council will also be responsible for examining the organisation’s future direction beyond the next five years, while maintaining oversight of the commitments and safeguards announced as part of the latest governance reforms.
With experts such as John E. Scanlon, Justice Krishna Murari, Craig Hoover, Subhash K. Malkhede and Greta F. Iori serving as voting members, along with wildlife veterinarian Dr. Kushal Konwar Sarma as an ex-officio member, Vantara’s new governing structure brings together a wide range of experience from wildlife conservation, law, public administration, veterinary science and international environmental governance.
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