Appointment of the Indian business executive has drawn questions over Vantara’s wildlife practices and the role of corporate influence in academia
Newcastle University has come under criticism after awarding a professorship of practice in sustainability to Indian business executive Anant Ambani, amid an ongoing debate over the conservation practices of Vantara, the wildlife facility associated with him.
The university announced the appointment on September 14, saying it recognised Ambani’s contribution to advancing a more sustainable future. It said work at Vantara, a 3,500-acre facility in Gujarat, was closely aligned with its research into conservation and global biodiversity targets.
Ambani is an executive director of Reliance Industries, the conglomerate headed by his father, billionaire Mukesh Ambani. He is also closely associated with Vantara, which describes itself as the world’s largest animal rescue and rehabilitation centre.
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The appointment has nevertheless prompted criticism from researchers and conservationists
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Lyla Mehta, a researcher affiliated with the University of Sussex’s Institute of Development Studies, questioned the decision and argued that universities should scrutinise corporate power rather than provide it with academic legitimacy
Wildlife conservationist Prerna Singh Bindra also challenged the description of Vantara as a conservation facility. She argued that keeping large numbers of animals in captivity should not be treated as equivalent to protecting wildlife in its natural habitat.
The criticism follows concerns surrounding Vantara’s acquisition of animals from different parts of the world, including endangered species. The facility announced a major review of its procedures last month following scrutiny of its operations.
Vantara has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Newcastle University has defended the appointment by pointing to the facility’s stated conservation work and Ambani’s involvement in sustainability initiatives. The controversy has since fuelled a wider discussion over how universities assess partnerships and honorary or practice-based academic positions involving prominent business figures.
