Tamil actor Chiyaan Vikram has come under scrutiny after a video showing him hugging and interacting with a Lar Gibbon went viral on social media, prompting questions about the legality and origin of the exotic animal. The actor has since deleted the Instagram post, while the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has initiated an inquiry into the animal’s background and documentation.
The video initially attracted attention for showing Vikram spending time with the primate. However, concerns soon emerged online over whether a Lar Gibbon can legally be kept as a private animal in India and how the animal came to be in the country.
Following the controversy, Vikram removed the video from his Instagram account. The deletion came as wildlife authorities began examining the circumstances surrounding the animal, including its origin, ownership and the documents reportedly required for its import and possession.
According to reports, the Lar Gibbon featured in the video is reportedly owned by CK Ranganathan, founder-chairman of CavinKare and father of Manu Ranjith, who is married to Vikram’s daughter Akshita. The video is also reportedly believed to have been filmed at Ranganathan’s farmhouse on Chennai’s East Coast Road. These details, however, are part of reports surrounding the incident and are subject to verification by wildlife authorities.
The Forest Department is now examining the animal’s history, including where it came from and whether the necessary paperwork exists for its importation and possession. Officials are expected to verify the animal’s origin and documentation before determining whether any wildlife regulations have been violated.
The controversy stems partly from the protected status of the Lar Gibbon. The species is native to parts of Southeast Asia and is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), placing strict controls on its international trade and movement. In India, the species is also listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act. It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Wildlife officials have stressed the importance of checking the documentation associated with exotic animals kept in private settings. The Deputy Director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau’s southern region said that when such cases arise, authorities work with state wildlife officials to verify whether owners possess valid documents and determine how an exotic animal was sourced.
Conservationists have also raised concerns about the broader practice of keeping wild primates as pets. Reports note that Lar Gibbons are arboreal animals that require large tree canopies for movement and that captivity can affect their natural behaviour. Wildlife experts have further warned about the illegal trade in such animals, including the capture and trafficking of young gibbons.
For Vikram, the immediate fallout has been the removal of the viral video and increased scrutiny from wildlife authorities. There has been no indication in the reports that the actor himself owns the animal, with available accounts instead identifying another individual as its reported owner. The investigation will determine whether the animal was legally imported and possessed.
Meanwhile, Vikram remains active professionally. He is set to headline an upcoming action thriller directed by Anand Shankar, with whom he previously collaborated on Iru Mugan. The film is being produced by Sathya Jyothi Films, with music by Santhosh Narayanan.