Lar gibbon in Indian actor Chiyaan Vikram's viral video came from Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Indian actor Chiyaan Vikram's video with a lar gibbon has triggered an investigation into the source of the protected animal, which came from Malaysia. The video of Vikram playing with the gibbon and hugging it had gone viral, The Hindu reported.

Since the lar gibbon is listed as a Schedule IV protected species under India's Wildlife Protection Act, officials will send a forest ranger to verify the primate's origin. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has also sought documents from individuals for possession of the lar.

What Happened

The Lar Gibbon (Hylobates lar) is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its import requires CITES import and export permissions, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) documentation and permission.

• A Manipur-based stockholder, Laikhuram Singh, had declared eight lar gibbons — four males and four females — in 2020 under the declaration of stock of exotic live species through PARIVESH 1.

• A subsequent Form I under the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024, recorded the transfer of three lar gibbons - one male and two females - from Laikhuram in Manipur to S.

• Keshavanathan in Perundurai, Erode for adoption.

Key Details

The records identified Malaysia as their country of origin.

• Sources told The Hindu the trail of the lar gibbon could be traced to Erode and, before that, to Manipur.

• According to The Hindu, Yogesh Kulal, Wildlife Warden, Chennai, said the animal has since been moved to Erode from businessman C.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by The Star as more details emerge