A video posted by a well‑known Tamil film star showing him hugging an endangered lar gibbon has triggered a wildlife investigation in Tamil Nadu. The clip, which was deleted from his Instagram account after a few hours, drew the attention of forest officials who wondered how the small apes ended up in a private home.
The lar gibbon, a small primate with a distinctive white face ring, is listed as endangered and covered by CITES. Importing or keeping such animals in India requires detailed documentation, permits from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and a no‑objection certificate from a wildlife conservator.
Investigation records show that the gibbons in question may have travelled from the northeastern state of Manipur, a region bordering Myanmar and a known route for illegal wildlife trafficking. In 2020, a Manipur‑based individual had declared eight lar gibbons on the government’s PARIVESH portal, listing Malaysia as the origin country.
Between June and August 2024, several of the gibbons were reportedly moved from Perundurai in Erode district to a Chennai relative of the actor. Forest officials are examining whether all needed permits were obtained at each step of the journey and whether the animals were legally transferred.
India’s Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has joined the probe, requesting verification of documents and urging compliance with CITES rules. The case highlights a larger pattern of exotic animal seizures on Indian ports, with recent seizures at Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru airports involving lizards, snakes and even gibbons.
For Indigenous communities, the episode underscores the enduring threat that illegal trade poses to forest biodiversity and the cultural heritage linked to these species. Protecting the lar gibbon and other endangered fauna requires strict enforcement of wildlife laws and heightened public awareness of the fragile ecosystems they inhabit.
