Actor Vikram. File photograph: Instagram/@the_real_chiyaan.
The Tamil Nadu Forest Division has sought an possession certificates and different paperwork from people for possession of a Lar Gibbon, after a video of actor Vikram taking part in with and hugging the animal went viral and drew backlash.
Yogesh Kulal, Wildlife Warden, Chennai, mentioned the animal has since been moved to Erode from businessman C.Okay. Ranganathan’s residence in Injambakkam.
The Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is listed in Appendix I of the Conference on Worldwide Commerce in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its import requires the requisite CITES import and export permissions, Directorate Normal of Overseas Commerce (DGFT) documentation and permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden of the State to which it’s being imported.
Sources mentioned the path of the Lar Gibbons will be traced to Erode and, earlier than that, to Manipur. As per data, a Manipur-based stockholder, Laikhuram Singh, declared eight Lar Gibbons — 4 males and 4 females — in 2020 beneath the declaration of inventory of unique dwell species via PARIVESH 1. The data determine Malaysia as their nation of origin.
The Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is listed in Appendix I of the Conference on Worldwide Commerce in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). File photograph: Particular association.
A subsequent Type I beneath the Residing Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Guidelines, 2024, data the switch of three Lar Gibbons — one male and two females — from Mr. Singh in Manipur to S.Okay. Keshavanathan in Perundurai, Erode for adoption.
Okay.V. Appala Naidu, District Forest Officer, Erode, mentioned a male and a feminine gibbon have been discovered on the premises and Mr. Keshavanathan knowledgeable that he had utilized for possession of three gibbons, however one animal had died earlier. “We have to confirm if the animal truly died or if there was an undocumented switch,” he mentioned.
In response to sources, Mr. Ranganathan is alleged to have obtained the animals from Mr. Keshavanathan. Nevertheless, the switch certificates is but to be authorised by authorities.
Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra mentioned the division was inspecting the circumstances beneath which the animals reached Tamil Nadu and whether or not all statutory necessities governing their possession and switch had been complied with.
Wildlife and animal welfare activist Antony Clement Rubin mentioned maintaining primates as pets may enhance the danger of zoonotic illness transmission, significantly at a time when animal-to-human spillover of pathogens is being more and more documented.
He additionally mentioned a star of Mr. Vikram’s stature posting a video of himself interacting with a Lar Gibbon may gas demand for such weak animals, that are trafficked via unlawful wildlife networks.
Printed – August 11, 2026 09:57 pm IST
