Newcastle University faces backlash over Anant Ambani's sustainability professorship

England's Newcastle University is facing criticism from conservationists over its appointment of Anant Ambani, the son of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani who runs a controversial mega-zoo, as a professor of sustainability, reports The Guardian.

The university said Ambani had been appointed to a professorship of practice in recognition of "his work in conservation, biodiversity protection, animal welfare and environmental stewardship" and his "significant contributions to advancing a more sustainable future".

Anant Ambani is the son of Mukesh Ambani, India's richest person, whose wealth has been built largely through oil and gas. Mukesh Ambani owns the world's largest oil refinery and has close links with India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the high-profile guests at Anant Ambani's lavish wedding in Mumbai in 2024.

Anant Ambani, 31, who oversees renewable energy at the Reliance Group's executive board level, has established Vantara, a 1,400-hectare (3,500-acre) private zoo near the family's oil refining facilities in Gujarat. 

The facility reportedly houses more than 150,000 animals, including 200 lions, 250 leopards and 900 crocodiles. It also hosted his pre-wedding celebrations attended by celebrities and politicians.

Conservation organisations have previously questioned the sourcing of some animals at Vantara, particularly because a number of them are endangered species. Vantara has not been found guilty of any wrongdoing.

Newcastle University's announcement has since drawn criticism from academic staff as well as Indian and international conservationists and environmental campaigners.

Ramachandra Guha, a prominent Indian public intellectual and author of "Speaking With Nature: The Origins of Indian Environmentalism", questioned the university's decision. 

"I must say that it is a rather mystifying choice. As a scholar of Indian and global environmentalism, I can name at least 50 – perhaps 100 – individuals who are far better qualified to be thus honoured. They include soil scientists, energy scientists, water conservation experts, community forest workers, ecologists, pollution abatement experts, etc who have made real and tangible contributions to a more sustainable future for India and Indians."

He continued, "I wonder on whose advice Newcastle University has acted, and whether it did due diligence on what has and has not been done in these fields. Its appointment of Mr Ambani is puzzling in the extreme, and is likely to adversely affect the university's institutional credibility and intellectual standing."

Bhuvan Mangalore, an Indian investigator specialising in illegal wildlife trade who is completing a dissertation on Vantara at Anglia Ruskin University, responded to the appointment by asking, "Is this a joke?"

Prof Matt Perry, chair of the University and College Union branch at Newcastle University, said staff members had raised objections to the appointment, citing environmental concerns.

Prof Lyla Mehta, head of the climate, environment and sustainability department at the University of Sussex's Institute of Development Studies, also warned about the growing influence of wealthy donors and corporations in academia.

"As public funding for universities falls, there is a real danger that billionaire and corporate money begins to shape academia."

She added, "Universities are supposed to be places that question power and hold corporations to account, not give them academic legitimacy."

In April, Anant Ambani launched Vantara University, promoted as the world's first global university dedicated to wildlife conservation and veterinary science.

Lorne Stockman, a research co-director at Oil Change International, said, "At a time when the climate crisis demands an urgent phaseout of oil and gas, we must demand our publicly funded institutions do better."