TN Forest Department probes Lar Gibbon possession after actor Vikram's viral video
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has initiated an inquiry into the possession and transfer of a Lar Gibbon after a video of actor Vikram playing with and hugging the protected primate went viral on social media, prompting criticism from wildlife conservationists.
The department has demanded an ownership certificate and other relevant documents from the individual in whose custody the animal was found. Yogesh Kulal, Wildlife Warden, Chennai, confirmed that the gibbon has been shifted from businessman C.K. Ranganathan's residence in Injambakkam to Erode as part of the investigation.
The Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is classified under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in such species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances. In India, possession and transfer of exotic species require compliance with the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the CITES guidelines, and the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024. Additionally, permissions from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state are mandatory.
According to official records, the trail of the Lar Gibbons leads to Manipur. A Manipur-based stockholder, Laikhuram Singh, had declared eight Lar Gibbons — four males and four females — in 2020 under the declaration of stock of exotic live species through the PARIVESH 1 portal. The declared country of origin was Malaysia. These declarations are part of efforts to regulate the ownership of exotic live species in India.
A subsequent Form I under the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024, recorded the transfer of three Lar Gibbons — one male and two females — from Singh to S.K. Keshavanathan in Perundurai, Erode, for adoption. However, when forest officials inspected Keshavanathan's premises, they discovered only one male and one female gibbon. Keshavanathan claimed he had applied for three but that one animal had died earlier. K.V. Appala Naidu, District Forest Officer, Erode, said the department is verifying whether the death occurred as reported or if there was an undocumented transfer to another party.
Sources indicate that Ranganathan is believed to have acquired the animals from Keshavanathan. However, the transfer certificate for this transaction has not yet been approved by the authorities, raising questions about the legality of the handover. Authorities are also verifying whether the interstate movement of the animals from Manipur to Tamil Nadu was properly documented and approved. Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra stated that the department is meticulously examining the circumstances under which the animals reached Tamil Nadu and whether all statutory requirements were satisfied.
Wildlife and animal welfare activist Antony Clement Rubin highlighted the broader risks of keeping primates as pets. He pointed out that close contact with such animals can facilitate zoonotic disease transmission — diseases that jump from animals to humans — a concern that has gained urgency in light of recent global outbreaks. Rubin also expressed concern that a viral video featuring a celebrity like Vikram could inadvertently encourage others to seek out such vulnerable animals, potentially fueling illegal wildlife trade.
The case underscores the challenges in regulating the ownership of exotic animals in India, where gaps in enforcement and documentation can allow protected species to be kept in private hands. The Forest Department's ongoing probe aims to establish a clear chain of custody and ensure that those responsible for any violations are held accountable under the law.
