A video posted by Tamil film star Vikram showing him hugging a lar gibbon has prompted an investigation into the endangered primate’s ownership and permits.
The clip, which was deleted from his Instagram account hours after it went live, sparked a flurry of media attention and raised questions about how the protected ape was housed in a private residence.
Tamil Nadu’s forest department began probing the matter, noting that the gibbon had been kept at a relative’s home in Chennai. Investigators are determining whether the animal was transferred with the proper documentation required by Indian wildlife law, which enforces CITES provisions for protected species.
In 2020, a Manipur‑based individual had declared multiple lar gibbons on the government portal PARIVESH, an official platform used to register exotic animals. Records now show that a handful of these gibbons were moved to Tamil Nadu in 2026 under a claimed adoption licence, but there is no evidence that the chief wildlife warden’s approval was secured for the transfer.
The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), a federal agency tasked with investigating organised wildlife crime, has requested that documents be verified. It remains unclear whether the gibbons entered India through legal importation or via illicit routes that have been documented along the north‑east border.
Lar gibbons, small apes found across southeast Asia, are listed as endangered due to habitat loss, hunting and the illegal pet trade. India has incorporated CITES’ strict trade controls into national wildlife legislation, requiring permits from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the Forest Department’s wildlife conservator, and proper registration with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of exotic animal trafficking into India. Customs officials have recently intercepted numerous reptiles, birds and primates hidden in luggage from Southeast Asian travelers, and several incidents involving gibbons have already been reported at major airports in the country.
Vikram has not yet commented publicly on the controversy. His spokesperson indicated that a statement would be released through media channels if one is issued. The investigation’s outcome may influence stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws and public awareness regarding the handling of endangered species in India.
