Erode Farm Owner Faces Scrutiny Over Lar Gibbon Documentation
Authorities in Erode have requested documentation from an animal farm owner regarding two Lar Gibbons. The probe follows actor Vikram's social media post featuring one of the primates.
Key takeaways
- The Erode Forest Division is investigating an animal farm owner in Perundurai concerning two Lar Gibbons.
- The farm owner has been asked to produce registration certificates and other documents related to the animals.
- An unreported death of a female Lar Gibbon at the facility has also been highlighted by authorities.
- The inspection was initiated after actor Vikram posted a video of himself with a Lar Gibbon on social media.
- The animals were transferred to Chennai on the same day the farm owner applied for registration, over two months after their arrival.
Officials from the Erode Forest Division have requested the owner of an animal breeding farm in Perundurai to submit registration certificates and related documents for two Lar Gibbons. The demand comes after an inspection by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the Forest Department identified the animals at the facility.
District Forest Officer K.V. Appala Naidu stated that the farm owner's registration process for the animals was incomplete. While some documents were submitted, they had deficiencies. Specifically, the registration certificate from the original seller in Manipur was required. The authorities also sought details concerning the unreported death of a female Lar Gibbon, a mandatory reportable incident under the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024.
The inspection was prompted by a social media video posted by actor Vikram, showing him interacting with a Lar Gibbon. The video sparked criticism from wildlife advocates regarding the possession of an endangered species without proper documentation. The actor subsequently removed the video.
The inquiry indicated that industrialist C.K. Ranganathan of Erode acquired two Lar Gibbons from the farm owner and relocated them to Chennai. Ranganathan is the father-in-law of actor Vikram’s daughter.
According to regulations for exotic live species, owners must register with the Forest Department, declare their animal stock, and report any new acquisitions within 30 days. This is followed by a departmental inspection for verification before a Form 3 Registration Certificate is issued. The Lar Gibbons arrived at the Perundurai farm on June 5, 2025. However, the farm owner applied for registration on August 9, 2025, and transferred the animals to Chennai the same day, resulting in a delay of over two months in the registration process.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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