Vikram, a celebrated Tamil‑film star, recently posted a video of himself cuddling a lar gibbon on Instagram. The clip, which quickly spread online, was removed within hours.
The footage has opened a formal investigation by the Tamil Nadu forest department into how the endangered primate ended up on a private property and whether all required permits were obtained. Officials say the gibbon was initially kept by a relative in Chennai, yet are still tracing its provenance.
Lar gibbons, native to Southeast Asia, are protected under CITES and India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act. Import or transfer of such species requires approval from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, a no‑objection certificate, and a wildlife conservator’s certificate.
Archival records reveal that in June the government registered a transfer of three gibbons from Manipur to Tamil Nadu’s Perundurai district for “adoption.” Subsequent moves saw two more animals dispatched to a relative of Vikram in Chennai during August, raising questions about missing documentation.
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has joined the probe, urging local officers to verify all papers. While no definitive evidence of trafficking has emerged, the case has revived worries about wildlife smuggling routes from the northeast, where much of India’s illegal pet trade originates.
Recent headlines note large numbers of exotic animals intercepted at Indian airports, including gibbons seized in 2025. The ongoing inquiry will determine whether Vikram’s gibbons were legally compliant or part of a broader illicit trade network.
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