Feathers Fly in Dispute Over Ambani Zoo’s Pursuit of Rare Parrot

September 2025 — A high-profile conservation dispute is brewing in India as the Ambani family’s privately funded zoo faces criticism over its efforts to acquire one of the world’s rarest parrots.

A Rare Prize

The focus of the controversy is the Spix’s Macaw, a striking blue parrot native to Brazil and made famous as the inspiration for the animated film Rio. Once thought extinct in the wild, the bird has been painstakingly reintroduced through international breeding programs.

Ambani’s Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom, located in Gujarat, is reportedly seeking to bring some of these parrots to India, billing the move as a step toward conservation and education.

Conservationists Push Back

Environmental groups, however, are raising alarms. They argue that transferring such a rare species to a private zoo risks undermining global breeding efforts carefully managed under international agreements.

“This isn’t about conservation — it’s about prestige,” one conservationist said, warning that fragile populations should remain under the protection of established international sanctuaries.

A Clash of Interests

For the Ambani-backed facility, which has already attracted global attention with its exotic animal collection, the pursuit of the parrot reflects India’s growing ambition in wildlife preservation. Supporters say private resources can strengthen conservation when public funding falls short.

Critics counter that ultra-wealthy collectors risk turning endangered species into trophies rather than protecting their survival in the wild. The debate touches on broader issues of ethics, ownership, and the role of private wealth in global conservation.

The Bigger Picture

The fight over the rare parrot also highlights growing tensions between conservation ideals and luxury displays of wealth. While private zoos and safari parks are expanding worldwide, conservationists insist that endangered species are best safeguarded in habitats close to their natural environments.

For now, the future of the Spix’s Macaw in India hangs in the balance, as feathers continue to fly between the Ambani empire and wildlife advocates across the globe.