{"id":1283,"date":"2026-09-09T10:41:28","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T10:41:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/09\/unicorn778-vantara-works-with-lobbyist-tied-to-trump-jr-and-pro-hunting-groups-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T10:41:28","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T10:41:28","slug":"unicorn778-vantara-works-with-lobbyist-tied-to-trump-jr-and-pro-hunting-groups-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/09\/unicorn778-vantara-works-with-lobbyist-tied-to-trump-jr-and-pro-hunting-groups-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online\/","title":{"rendered":"UNICORN778 Vantara works with lobbyist tied to Trump Jr. and pro-hunting groups Peluang Terburuk Saat Bermain Slot Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"post-327730\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"bulletpoints-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bulletpoints\">\n<ul>\n<li><em>Vantara, the controversial billionaire-run Indian zoo, has worked with lobbyists in the U.K. with ties to pro-hunting organizations and the Trump administration, sources told Mongabay.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Tristan Breijer, a U.K.-based lobbyist at Checkmate Government Relations, invited at least one wildlife conservation organization to a roundtable hosted by Vantara on the sidelines of the CITES Animals Committee in July 2026, according to sources.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Checkmate was founded by Charles \u2018Ches\u2019 McDowell, a hunting friend of Donald Trump Jr. Its long list of clients includes Reliance Industries, the petrochemical giant owned by the Ambani family, which includes Anant Ambani, who started Vantara.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Conservationists say Vantara\u2019s lobbying efforts at  CITES meetings before a key November meeting raises questions about its intentions. India is expected to respond to a CITES report on the origins of some endangered and protected species imported by Vantara. They also question the Indian zoo\u2019s association with lobbyists tied to pro-hunting organizations, when it claims to be rescuing animals from around the world.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"content-expander\"><span>See All Key Ideas<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Checkmate Government Relations, a lobbying firm founded by a hunting friend of Donald Trump Jr., recently represented Vantara, a controversial private Indian zoo that has been in the spotlight over the questionable origins of some of its more than 150,000 animals, which include protected and endangered species.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkmategr.com\/team\/tristan-breijer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Tristan Breijer,<\/a> the head of the U.S.-based lobby firm Checkmate\u2019s London office, sent an unsolicited email \u201crepresenting the Vantara initiative in the United Kingdom,\u201d sometime before July, according to a source who asked not to be named. Breijer is a lobbyist and has a history of representing pro-hunting groups in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Vantara is a massive private zoo that sprawls over 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares): It\u2019s about four times the size of Central Park in New York City and is run by Anant Ambani, the son of one of Asia\u2019s richest men, Mukesh Ambani.<\/p>\n<p>The zoo, which claims to be an animal rescue facility with about 2,000 species, came under scrutiny after media reports surfaced that it <a href=\"https:\/\/pulitzercenter.org\/stories\/costs-reliances-wildlife-ambitions\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">allegedly<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.is\/20250901181654\/https:\/www.sueddeutsche.de\/projekte\/artikel\/wissen\/indien-vantara-riesenzoo-wildtierhandel-loewen-e470491\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">acquired <\/a>endangered animals illegally. A report by CITES, the global treaty that regulates commercial international trade in endangered wildlife, <a href=\"https:\/\/india.mongabay.com\/2025\/11\/global-biodiversity-assessment-counters-supreme-courts-clean-chit-to-vantara\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">flagged irregularities<\/a> in some of its animal imports. Vantara has <a href=\"https:\/\/thewire.in\/environment\/vantaras-demand-for-wildlife-may-have-fuelled-illegal-wildlife-trade-worldwide-report\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">denied wrongdoing<\/a> and India\u2019s top court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/supreme-court-appointed-sit-gives-clean-chit-to-vantara\/article70051889.ece\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">dismissed similar allegations<\/a> after an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cgqn5jjk55no\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">investigation<\/a> last year.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_327742\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133819\/c.-Vantara-Ambani.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-327742\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133819\/c.-Vantara-Ambani.jpg\" alt=\"Anant Ambani at Vantara. \" width=\"1365\" height=\"901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133819\/c.-Vantara-Ambani.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133819\/c.-Vantara-Ambani-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133819\/c.-Vantara-Ambani-1200x792.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133819\/c.-Vantara-Ambani-610x403.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1365px) 100vw, 1365px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, at Vantara. Image by Bohoindian via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=161120208\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">CC BY 4.0<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the email allegedly sent by Breijer, he invited the recipient to a roundtable meeting hosted by Vantara on the sidelines of the Animals Committee meeting of CITES, held July 13-17, 2026, in Geneva, Switzerland. This scientific meeting, attended by CITES members, advises the Secretriat on sustainable trade in wild species. Mongabay spoke with sources who attended the meeting as observers, alongside representatives from the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC), as Vantara is legally known.<\/p>\n<p>At the meeting,\u00a0Vantara proposed to host a side event on July 14, 2026, titled \u201c<em>Every Life Matters,<\/em>\u201d according to a provisional schedule shared by the CITES Secretariat before the gathering and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28535074-side-event-schedule-ac34-pc28\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">obtained by Mongabay<\/a>. Side events are small meetings hosted by any organization or country attending the CITES meeting, where participants discuss key issues and share knowledge, independent of the main agenda. They are open to all attendees.<\/p>\n<p>However, the event was canceled and disappeared from the <a href=\"https:\/\/airtable.com\/appb8RQAQXwEBtQ7A\/shrgdDFsONRRFbAQR\/tblZWOn9yGGZlaPih\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">schedule without explanation <\/a>. Instead, Vantara hosted an invitation-only roundtable on July 15, 2026, at 17:15 local time, sources told Mongabay. It\u2019s not clear what was discussed, but sources said some 15-20 people, including Breijer and Amit Aggarwal, president of regulatory affairs at Vantara, attended it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329199\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-329199 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08211203\/1000062497-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Tristan Breijer (on right, with brown bag pack) with Vantara's Amit Aggarwal (center) and Dallas Safari Club's Mike Oropallo (right on Photo 2) at the CITES Animals Committee meeting in July 2026.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08211203\/1000062497-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08211203\/1000062497-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08211203\/1000062497-350x233.jpg 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tristan Breijer (right) with Vantara\u2019s Amit Aggarwal (center, facing camera) at the CITES Animals Committee meeting in Geneva in July 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Mongabay asked Checkmate about their lobbying efforts for Vantara. It declined to comment for this story.<\/p>\n<p>The zoo did not answer questions on the record about lobbying activities. Instead, it issued a statement: \u201cLike many non-profit organisations, Vantara is committed to transparency and engages constructively with regulators, NGOs, scientific institutions and conservation partners around the world. Our focus remains on the rescue, rehabilitation and conservation of wildlife, and we welcome informed dialogue about that work.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Lobbyist\u2019s links to hunting rights organizations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Breijer is a well-connected lobbyist, and his career has deep roots in pro-hunting advocacy in Europe. Over the past five years, he has represented the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.face.eu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">European Federation for Hunting and Conservation <\/a>(FACE), a Brussels-based umbrella group for hunters\u2019 associations across the continent. In that role, he has <a href=\"https:\/\/lonestaroutdoorshow.com\/2024\/03\/25\/episode-719-from-vegetarian-to-butcher-to-hunter-what-in-the-heck-is-face\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">repeatedly pushed<\/a> for what he calls the \u201csocial acceptance\u201d of hunting, through public speaking appearances, interviews, and hunting conference panels in Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2024, he has also served as director of communications and public affairs at the <a href=\"https:\/\/cic-wildlife.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation<\/a> (CIC), a European NGO that promotes sport and trophy hunting. CIC also <a href=\"https:\/\/cic-wildlife.org\/cic-expands-presence-in-the-united-states\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">participated<\/a> in the 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/safariclub.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Safari Club International<\/a>\u2019s annual convention, a gathering of sport and trophy hunters, promoted as \u201cthe Super Bowl of hunting,\u201d in Nashville, Tennessee, in the U.S. Safari Club International is a pro-hunting organization, which also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humaneworld.org\/en\/blog\/what-we-found-undercover-infamous\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">promotes big game hunting<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Breijer works as the <a href=\"https:\/\/macemagazine.com\/checkmates-bold-london-move\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">senior advisor for Checkmate<\/a> at its recently opened London office. In his previous lobbying activities, he engaged with the U.K. Parliament at Westminster, the European Parliament and UN convention processes on \u201ccomplex and politically sensitive regulatory matters,\u201d according to his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkmategr.com\/team\/tristan-breijer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">company biography<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329204\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329204\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08212143\/638521956_1224550413129259_8204942912096351919_n.jpg\" alt=\"Tristan Breijer (second from left) at an event themed around horses and hunting organized by the Hungarian embassy in London.\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08212143\/638521956_1224550413129259_8204942912096351919_n.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08212143\/638521956_1224550413129259_8204942912096351919_n-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08212143\/638521956_1224550413129259_8204942912096351919_n-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08212143\/638521956_1224550413129259_8204942912096351919_n-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08212143\/638521956_1224550413129259_8204942912096351919_n-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08212143\/638521956_1224550413129259_8204942912096351919_n-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tristan Breijer (second from left) at an event themed around horses and hunting organized by the Hungarian embassy in London in February 2026. Image from the Embassy of Hungary in London via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/HunEmbassy.London\/posts\/pfbid02rpDQsgkAujas68JYx4Fr53J8CzR51C2ce9hgkD3sEGeWLv9Lheryr1kkd5nJ238pl\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Facebook<\/a> (fair use).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For an organization like Vantara that claims \u201cevery life matters\u201d in its tagline, having ties to individuals linked to pro-hunting groups for lobbying on its behalf is unsettling, some argue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would also raise real credibility questions if an organization claiming to rescue animals were, of all things, working with someone tied to trophy hunting and lobbying for trade in highly threatened species,\u201d Daniela Freyer, co-founder of the German NGO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prowildlife.de\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Pro Wildlife<\/a>, told Mongabay.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Reliance\u2019s links to Trump administration through lobby firm<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkmategr.com\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Checkmate Government Relations LLC<\/a> was founded in the United States in 2023 by Charles \u2018Ches\u2019 McDowell, who is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefp.com\/p\/two-drinks-with-don-jrs-hunting-buddy\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">reportedly <\/a>a personal friend of \u00a0U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and is said to be a sport hunter. Their friendship <a href=\"https:\/\/macemagazine.com\/checkmates-bold-london-move\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">reportedly included<\/a>\u00a0 a three-day bear hunt in North Carolina. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28535078-propertyrecordnc-thebearstore-dtrumpjr\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Public records in North Carolina<\/a> show that \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theassemblync.com\/news\/politics\/the-thrill-of-the-hunt-mcdowell-lobbyist-trump\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">McDowell and Trump Jr. operate a joint hunting business<\/a> called The Bear Store.<\/p>\n<p>The lobbying firm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkmategr.com\/_files\/ugd\/4a98b4_23443e214efb43c39e44aba10bcd1ccb.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">claims<\/a> to have \u00a0\u201cunparalleled\u201d access to the Trump Administration with more than 100 registered clients.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. lobbying records show that those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opensecrets.org\/federal-lobbying\/firms\/summary?id=F331205\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">clients include<\/a> the U.S. subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd., the Indian oil and gas conglomerate owned by Mukesh Ambani. His youngest son, Anant Ambani, who started Vantara, is serves as executive director at Reliance Industries.<\/p>\n<p>Reliance\u2019s U.S. subsidiary, RIL USA, hired Checkmate beginning in 2025 \u2014 the same year the Trump Administration <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2025\/08\/06\/us-to-hike-tariffs-on-india-to-50-percent-over-russian-oil-purchases-00495411\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">hiked tariffs on India from 25% to 50% <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HVf458fIb2M&amp;t=11s\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">accused the Ambani family<\/a> of profiting from importing cheap Russian oil. Through the end of July 2026, RIL USA has <a href=\"https:\/\/lda.gov\/filings\/public\/filing\/search\/?registrant=&amp;registrant_country=&amp;registrant_ppb_country=&amp;client=RIL+USA&amp;client_state=&amp;client_country=&amp;client_ppb_country=&amp;house_id=&amp;lobbyist=&amp;lobbyist_covered_position=&amp;lobbyist_conviction_disclosure=&amp;lobbyist_conviction_date_range_from=&amp;lobbyist_conviction_date_range_to=&amp;report_period=&amp;report_year=&amp;report_dt_posted_from=&amp;report_dt_posted_to=&amp;report_amount_reported_min=&amp;report_amount_reported_max=&amp;report_filing_uuid=&amp;report_house_doc_id=&amp;report_issue_area_description=&amp;affiliated_organization=&amp;affiliated_organization_country=&amp;foreign_entity=&amp;foreign_entity_country=&amp;foreign_entity_ppb_country=&amp;foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_min=&amp;foreign_entity_ownership_percentage_max=&amp;search=search\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">paid<\/a> Checkmate $570,000 to lobby the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy on trade and energy issues, according to the latest lobbying filings maintained by the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329215\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329215\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08222422\/RelianceIndustriesJet.jpg\" alt=\"Reliance Industries corporate jet\" width=\"2395\" height=\"1654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08222422\/RelianceIndustriesJet.jpg 2395w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08222422\/RelianceIndustriesJet-768x530.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08222422\/RelianceIndustriesJet-1536x1061.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08222422\/RelianceIndustriesJet-2048x1414.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08222422\/RelianceIndustriesJet-1200x829.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08222422\/RelianceIndustriesJet-610x421.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2395px) 100vw, 2395px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Reliance Industries corporate jet. Image By Simon Butler via <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:RELIANCE_INDUSTRIES_BD700_GLOBAL_EXPRESS_VT-HMA_(52276197791).jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Wikimedia Commons<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">(CC BY 4.0)<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Reliance has hired other U.S. lobbying firms as well. According to a <em>Scroll.in<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/1091393\/reliance-lobbied-us-with-record-spending-ahead-of-texas-refinery-investment\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">investigation<\/a>, Reliance spent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/shorts\/-5G8W0euQCo\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">$1.49 million<\/a> in 2025 \u2014 its highest in more than a decade \u2014 on lobbying efforts in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>By February 2026, President Trump waived \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/fact-sheets\/2026\/02\/fact-sheet-the-united-states-and-india-announce-historic-trade-deal\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">25% tariffs imposed on India,<\/a>\u00a0 and <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116206958726200848\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">announced<\/a> that Reliance would invest $300 billion in a Texas oil refinery project that<a href=\"https:\/\/www.propublica.org\/article\/trump-ambani-reliance-industries-america-first-refining-texas\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"> Trump Jr. has invest<\/a>ed in, according to <em>ProPublica<\/em>\u2019s investigation. Anant Ambani is said to have personally worked on this deal with the Texas-based America First Refining, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/politics\/articles\/one-indian-billionaire-bought-off-141725142.html\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">media reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In a May 2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkmategr.com\/_files\/ugd\/4a98b4_23443e214efb43c39e44aba10bcd1ccb.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">press release<\/a>, Checkmate announced it was opening its first European office in London. It hired Breijer to lead operations, offering services to clients \u201crequiring effective representation across the United Kingdom, the European Union, and international multilateral institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/cic-wildlife.org\/cic-expands-presence-in-the-united-states\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">press release<\/a> from the Nashville conference of the Safari Club International has Breijer, along with two other CIC members, photographed with Trump Jr., who is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-52999375\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">known to be an avid trophy hunter<\/a> and has killed animals around the world, including endangered species. <a href=\"https:\/\/theworld.org\/stories\/2017\/05\/13\/photos-trump-familys-africa-hunting-safari-spark-outrage-video\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Photos<\/a> have surfaced over the years of him and his brother, Eric, posing with dead animals, including a <a href=\"https:\/\/theworld.org\/stories\/2016\/07\/31\/trump-sons-trophy-hunt-legal-zimbabwe-parks-authority-says\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">leopard<\/a>, a <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/blogs\/entertainment\/2012\/03\/trumps-sons-under-investigation-for-african-hunting-trip\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Cape buffalo<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/newyork\/news\/sound-off-photos-of-donald-trumps-sons-big-game-hunting-surface-online\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">crocodile<\/a>, among others.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329206\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329206\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08213023\/tristan.png\" alt=\"Tristan Breijer (left), along with representatives from CIC, and Donald Trump Jr. in Nashville.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08213023\/tristan.png 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08213023\/tristan-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08213023\/tristan-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08213023\/tristan-610x343.png 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tristan Breijer (left), along with representatives from CIC, and Donald Trump Jr. in Nashville. Image courtesy of CIC.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In November 2025, during his second trip to India, Trump Jr. <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/life-style\/donald-trump-jr-visits-anant-ambanis-vantara-on-his-jamnagar-tour\/articleshow\/125500985.cms\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">visited<\/a> Vantara and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DRWU4-Djqiq\/?hl=en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">called<\/a>\u00a0 it \u201cincredible\u201d and \u201ca wonder of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Checkmate isn\u2019t yet registered with the U.K.\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/registrarofconsultantlobbyists.org.uk\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists<\/a>, a public list of lobbyists. The list is updated every three months.<\/p>\n<p>Reliance Industries has been among a group of Indian businesses that <a href=\"https:\/\/openaccess.transparency.org.uk\/?meeting=1110562\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">lobbied<\/a>\u00a0then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer\u2019s government in the U.K., according to data from Transparency International. When Starmer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pm-wraps-up-india-trade-trip-with-10600-jobs-secured?lang=en-gb\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">was in India<\/a>, two meetings were set up with the <a href=\"https:\/\/openaccess.transparency.org.uk\/?meeting=1110562\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">prime minister<\/a> and his <a href=\"https:\/\/openaccess.transparency.org.uk\/?meeting=22748082\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">minister of business and trade <\/a>on Oct. 9, 2025, to discuss business opportunities between India and the U.K. in the wake of a free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.business.gov.uk\/campaign\/alive-with-opportunity\/the-uk-india-trade-deal\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">trade agreement the two countries signed<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Less than a year before those meetings, in December 2024, Starmer <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-prime-minister-hosts-indian-business-leaders-at-downing-street\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">met a business delegation<\/a> from India, which included representatives from Reliance Industries.<\/p>\n<p>Photos obtained by Mongabay from the recent CITES meeting in Geneva show Vantara\u2019s Aggarwal with Breijer and Mike Oropallo, a wildlife law attorney who represented <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggame.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Dallas Safari Club<\/a> there. The club is a U.S.-based sport hunting organization that actively lobbies for trophy hunting.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Lobbying efforts in the EU on Vantara<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Vantara has been a subject of meetings with EU parliamentarians through lobbyist groups, according to public records.<\/p>\n<p>On Jan. 7, 2026, representatives from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanhumane.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">American Humane<\/a> Society, a U.S.-based animal welfare organization and a subsidiary of\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalhumane.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Global Humane<\/a> Society, met Oliv\u00e9r V\u00e1rhelyi, the EU commissioner for health and animal welfare, and Flavio Facioni, cabinet member, according to lobbyist data from <a href=\"http:\/\/lobbyfacts.eu\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">LobbyFacts.eu<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting was facilitated through the Brussels-based lobbyist firm <a href=\"https:\/\/capitalaffairs.eu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Capital European Affairs<\/a>, which calls Global Humane Society one of its partners. The subject of that meeting was stated to be \u201cGreens Zoological Rescue &amp; Rehabilitation Centre,\u201d Vantara\u2019s legal name.<\/p>\n<p>On that same day, representatives also met Andrea Gavinelli, head of the animal welfare EU unit, with the subject of the meeting declared as \u201cinformation about the actions performed by Vantara to ensure the health and welfare of endangered species of animals in captivity across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A few days before the meeting with EU representatives, in December 2025, Global Humane Society <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalhumane.org\/press-release\/global-humane-society-presents-anant-ambani-with-global-humanitarian-award-for-leadership-in-wildlife-conservation\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">awarded<\/a> Anant Ambani the \u201cGlobal Humanitarian Award.\u201d Previous awardees include Hollywood celebrities such as Shirley MacLaine, John Wayne and Betty White, and former U.S. presidents John F. Kennedy and Bill Clinton.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_327740\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon.jpg\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-327740\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon.jpg\" alt=\"Hippos wallow in a lagoon in the Hacienda Napoles Park, once the private estate of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia, 2026.\" width=\"2212\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon.jpg 2212w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon-768x469.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon-1536x937.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon-2048x1250.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon-1200x732.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/08\/28133553\/b.Hippos-wallow-at-a-lagoon-610x372.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2212px) 100vw, 2212px\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hippos wallow in a lagoon in the Hacienda Napoles Park, once the private estate of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia, 2026. Vantara has offered to take these hippos. Image by AP Photo\/Fernando Vergara.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In an email to Mongabay, a spokesperson from Capital European Affairs confirmed these meetings. \u201cIn our capacity as an advisory organisation, we assisted a Vantara representative who was visiting Brussels in January by arranging two introductory meetings with relevant officials from the European Commission. These were general meetings intended to introduce Vantara\u2019s activities and mission,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p>The spokesperson also said \u201cour organisation has never had, and does not currently have, any professional or commercial relationship with Vantara. Our assistance in arranging the January meetings was also provided free of charge and solely in the spirit of partnership.\u201d (Read the full response <a href=\"https:\/\/www.documentcloud.org\/documents\/28534843-capital-european-affairs-response\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>Mongabay asked Global Humane Society about these meetings related to Vantara and their goals, but did not receive a response by publication.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Conservationists question intent behind lobbying efforts<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>CITES is not new to advocacy and political lobbying, said Susan Lieberman, vice president of international policy at the U.S.-based NGO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wcs.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Wildlife Conservation Society<\/a>. She is an expert in wildlife trade-related matters with more than three decades experience with CITES.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s always been advocacy from wildlife trade organizations \u2014 hunters, ivory traders, whalers, reptile traders, pet traders,\u201d she said, adding that sometimes these organizations also fund governments who don\u2019t have resources to attend a CITES meeting.<\/p>\n<p>But hiring a private lobby firm is <em>not<\/em> common, she said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_329211\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-329211\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08214822\/PXL_20251123_033614307-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"CITES meetings are gatherings of all parties, and observers including NGOs and organizations that favor wildlife trade.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08214822\/PXL_20251123_033614307-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08214822\/PXL_20251123_033614307-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08214822\/PXL_20251123_033614307-1536x1157.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08214822\/PXL_20251123_033614307-2048x1542.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08214822\/PXL_20251123_033614307-1200x904.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/09\/08214822\/PXL_20251123_033614307-610x459.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">CITES meetings are gatherings of all parties, and observers including NGOs and organizations that favor wildlife trade. Image by Spoorthy Raman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cLegitimate conservation NGOs typically engage governments directly \u2014 through their own in-house policy staff, technical submissions and evidence. Not through a commercial government-relations firm,\u201d said Freyer from Pro Wildlife. \u201cHiring a paid lobbyist is far more typical of companies seeking political access, or worried about their reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Vantara\u2019s case, its lobbying efforts come at a time when countries are preparing for the 81st Standing Committee meeting \u2014 a policy oriented meeting that oversees the implementation of CITES \u2014 in November 2026.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2025, countries <a href=\"https:\/\/india.mongabay.com\/2025\/11\/cites-withdraws-recommendation-to-suspend-trade-of-endangered-species-to-india\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">voted to withdraw<\/a> a recommendation to suspend trade of all endangered species with India because of\u00a0 irregularities in animal imports linked to Vantara. India\u2019s CITES Management Authority, which issues import permits, is expected to report on progress made to improve its process at the upcoming meeting.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEarly August is the deadline for India to demonstrate whether it has cleaned up its due-diligence system and properly resourced its authorities to fight illegal wildlife trade. The Standing Committee will judge that progress at its next meeting in November,\u201d Freyer said. If Vantara wanted to establish goodwill about its operations, the timing of the lobbying efforts aligns, she said.<\/p>\n<p>The Standing Committee has 32 members, including India, and importantly, the U.K. will chair the upcoming meeting in November.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe chair of the meeting can guide the discussions, but every Standing Committee member has an equal voice,\u201d Lieberman said. However, if the members of the Standing Committee or the chair wanted the discussions to go in a certain direction, that could happen, she added.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.com\/world\/asia\/article\/anant-ambani-wildlife-india-7xvmhgwvt\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">recent feature<\/a> published in <em>The Sunday Times <\/em>on Anant Ambani\u2019s efforts to bring Pablo Escobar\u2019s hippos from Columbia to Vantara, Ambani is said to have rescued hippos from a South African hunting lodge. \u201cFor $10,000 you could shoot them all,\u201dAmbani told the journalist, and reportedly a prospective hunter paid the fee, but did not kill the animals and instead donated them to Vantara.<\/p>\n<p>Recruiting lobbyists can also be expensive, and conservation would be well-served if any money went instead to deserving causes, Lieberman said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf they really care about wildlife, then put the money into keeping the wildlife in the wild and their ecosystems safe,\u201d she said. \u201cIf they care about hippos, they should work with African countries on some of the parks that have hippos. That\u2019s where the hippos are, and where support is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Banner image:<\/strong> Donald Trump Jr. poses for photos following a morning of pheasant hunting at Hole in the Wall Lodge near Akron, Iowa, Saturday, October 27, 2017. Image by Jim Lee \u00a9Sioux City Journal.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Elis\u00e2ngela Mendon\u00e7a<\/strong> contributed reporting.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Spoorthy Raman<\/em><\/strong><em> is a staff writer at Mongabay, covering all things wild with a special focus on lesser-known wildlife, the wildlife trade, and environmental crime.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"XFpBM4fqMC\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2026\/05\/brazil-police-seize-devices-from-bird-expert-in-trafficking-probe-linked-to-vantara-zoo\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">Brazil police seize devices from bird expert in trafficking probe linked to Vantara zoo<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cBrazil police seize devices from bird expert in trafficking probe linked to Vantara zoo\u201d \u2014 Conservation news\" src=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2026\/05\/brazil-police-seize-devices-from-bird-expert-in-trafficking-probe-linked-to-vantara-zoo\/embed\/#?secret=uUT9EIIJkG#?secret=XFpBM4fqMC\" data-secret=\"XFpBM4fqMC\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"cwZzfIcQyh\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2026\/06\/the-global-trafficking-ring-preying-on-a-rare-golden-monkey-from-brazil\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">The global trafficking ring preying on a rare golden monkey from Brazil<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cThe global trafficking ring preying on a rare golden monkey from Brazil\u201d \u2014 Conservation news\" src=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2026\/06\/the-global-trafficking-ring-preying-on-a-rare-golden-monkey-from-brazil\/embed\/#?secret=GVRnQmHurB#?secret=cwZzfIcQyh\" data-secret=\"cwZzfIcQyh\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>FEEDBACK<\/strong>: Use <a href=\"https:\/\/form.jotform.com\/243222708905455\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">this form<\/a> to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page.<a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\"\/><\/p>\n<p>                            &#13;<br \/>\n                            <span class=\"article-comments\"><a href=\"\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"\/><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n                            &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;\n                        <\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; Vantara, the controversial billionaire-run Indian zoo, has worked with lobbyists in the U.K. with&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[12,1360,3160,14,9,3163,11,13,10,3161,3162,2,3158,3159],"class_list":["post-1283","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unicorn778","tag-bermain","tag-groups","tag-lobbyist","tag-online","tag-peluang","tag-prohunting","tag-saat","tag-slot","tag-terburuk","tag-tied","tag-trump","tag-unicorn778","tag-vantara","tag-works"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1283","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1283"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1283\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1284"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1283"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1283"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1283"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}