The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has initiated an investigation against Chiyaan Vikram for possession of an exotic species.
Chiyaan Vikram faces backlash after a video with exotic monkey: Actor Chiyaan Vikram has recently been surrounded by a new controversy. The actor shared an Instagram reel seen cuddling and playing with a rare and exotic species of monkey. However, within 24 hours, the video was removed from social media after it created a stir in legal and administrative circles.
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has initiated an investigation against Chiyaan Vikram for possession of an exotic species. The monkey has been identified as a Lar Gibbon, an endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora(CITES) and India’s Wildlife Protection Act. According to the report, CK Ranganathan, Vikram’s daughter’s father-in-law, had officially purchased the monkey. The monkey was brought from Manipur to Erode in Tamil Nadu in June. Wildlife activists, however, have raised concerns about the legality of keeping a Lar gibbon as a pet without the necessary documents. They have also alleged that the animal could have been trafficked from Southeast Asia.
There has been no confirmation on these claims from the department yet, as an investigation is still underway. Neither the actor nor Ranganathan’s office has released an official statement regarding the investigation.
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