Tamil Nadu Forest Department probes Lar Gibbon video involving actor Vikram

Tamil actor Chiyaan Vikram is at the center of a wildlife controversy after a video of him playing with an endangered Lar Gibbon sparked an investigation by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. The video, which was posted on social media and later deleted, has raised questions about the legality of the primate's acquisition and possession.

The video, which circulated widely online before being removed, showed the actor cuddling and playing with the gibbon at a private residence. Officials have traced the location of the clip to the Injambakkam home of industrialist C.K. Ranganathan, the founder-chairman of CavinKare. Ranganathan is the father of Manu Ranjith, who is married to Vikram's daughter, Akshita.

The Lar Gibbon, scientifically known as Hylobates lar, is an endangered species native to Southeast Asia. It is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which imposes strict controls on international trade. In India, the species is also protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, meaning its possession requires specific authorization.

Following the video's spread, state wildlife...