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Actor Chiyaan Vikram has drawn the attention of wildlife authorities and conservationists after sharing a video of himself interacting with a lar gibbon. The species is a threatened primate protected under international wildlife trade regulations.
The video, which Vikram posted on social media, showed him playing with a well-grown lar gibbon. It quickly went viral, but also triggered questions over how the exotic animal came to be in a private setting in Chennai and whether its owner possesses the documents required to legally keep it.
The lar gibbon, scientifically known as Hylobates lar, is native to Southeast Asia and is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The species is also classified as a Schedule IV animal under India's amended Wildlife Protection Act.
Under CITES, Appendix I covers species facing the highest level of protection and places stringent restrictions on international commercial trade. Possession of an exotic animal in India can also be subject to domestic requirements concerning its acquisition, registration, transfer and supporting documentation.
The presence of a lar gibbon in a private setting, therefore, does not by itself establish an offence. Authorities would need to determine how the animal entered the country, where it was obtained from and whether its possession is supported by the documents and permissions required under applicable wildlife laws.
Chennai wildlife warden Kulal Yogesh Vilas, speaking to Times of India, said the wildlife department would verify the animal's origin, including who it was procured from and whether the owner has documents establishing its purchase and possession.
A forest ranger would be sent to conduct the verification, Yogesh Vilas said. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau also said state wildlife authorities are generally asked to examine cases involving exotic pets and verify whether owners have valid documents and details about the source of the animals.
The report added that V Thenmozhi, deputy director of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau's southern region, said authorities seek the assistance of state wildlife officials in such cases to check documentation and establish where an exotic animal was sourced.
The video has also raised concerns among conservationists because of the way lar gibbons are captured and traded. Shravan Krishnan, an animal rights activist and member of the Tamil Nadu State Board for Wildlife, said the focus on the animal's appearance could obscure the circumstances surrounding the illegal wildlife trade.
“It’s a very unfortunate incident but everyone only looks at the cute juvenile gibbon but most don't know what happens behind the scenes. Most likely this Gibbon would have been trafficked from south east Asia where poachers would have killed the parents and smuggled the baby.”
Conservationists have pointed out that capturing a young gibbon can involve killing its mother. In some cases, poachers may kill an entire family of gibbons to obtain a single young animal for the illegal pet trade.
Lar gibbons are arboreal animals that depend on large tree canopies for movement and survival. Keeping them confined, conservationists say, can alter their natural behaviour and affect their welfare.
The animal shown in Vikram's video appeared to be a well-grown adult, raising questions about how long it had been in captivity. Conservationists have also alleged that pet traders in India have been involved in breeding and selling such primates illegally.
The video also prompted claims on social media about the animal's alleged route into Chennai. The department's proposed verification is expected to establish the animal's source and whether the relevant documents exist.
