Chiyaan Vikram has removed an Instagram reel showing him cuddling and playing with an exotic monkey, shortly after reports emerged of a Tamil Nadu Forest Department enquiry involving his daughter's father-in-law. The video, shared on Sunday, featured Vikram with a Lar gibbon, an endangered species protected under international and Indian wildlife laws. According to a report by the Free Press Journal, businessman CK Ranganathan, Vikram's daughter's father-in-law, is facing questions over his alleged possession of the animal. Wildlife activists have also raised concerns about whether the gibbon was legally acquired and whether the required documents were available for its possession.
Chiyaan Vikram Deletes Monkey Reel
Vikram shared the video on Instagram on Sunday, showing him interacting closely with the monkey. The reel was removed around 24 hours later, after reports surfaced about an enquiry into the animal's possession. The Free Press Journal reported that the monkey was a Lar gibbon, a species classified as endangered and 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, the animal was officially purchased by CK Ranganathan and brought from Manipur to Erode in Tamil Nadu in June. However, the circumstances surrounding its possession have prompted questions from wildlife activists.
Forest Department Enquiry Into Lar Gibbon
Wildlife activists have questioned whether the gibbon was being kept legally and whether the necessary permits and documents were in place. Some have also alleged that the animal could have been trafficked from Southeast Asia. These claims have not been confirmed by the Forest Department, with the matter still under investigation.
The report also stated that Chennai Wildlife Warden Yogen Kulala visited Ranganathan at his residence after Vikram removed the reel. He reportedly informed the businessman that an enquiry had been initiated and raised questions about the required clearance documents for keeping the animal.
Vikram has not publicly commented on the matter so far.
Who Is CK Ranganathan?
CK Ranganathan is the Founder-Chairman of CavinKare. He is also the father of Manu Ranjith, who is married to Vikram's daughter Akshita. This makes Ranganathan the actor's daughter's father-in-law. On the professional front, Vikram was most recently seen in director SU Arun Kumar's Veera Dheera Sooran. The actor has also announced upcoming projects with directors Anand Shankar and Bodi Rajkumar.
The two projects remain without further major updates, while the actor's deleted Instagram video has now become the subject of a wildlife-related enquiry.