The Erode Forest Division on Friday (August 14) booked K. Keshavanathan, owner of an animal breeding farm in Perundurai, for failing to register three Lar gibbons within the stipulated 30-day period and not informing the Forest Department about the death of one of the animals.

Lar gibbons are exotic animal species listed under Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The animals were acquired from a Manipur-based owner on June 1, 2026. However, Mr. Keshavanathan submitted the required Form-I application under the Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024, only on August 9. One of the three animals subsequently died, while the other two remain at the farm.

The Forest Department began an inquiry after actor Vikram posted a video on social media in which he was seen petting and hugging a Lar gibbon. The department, along with the Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, questioned the actor and subsequently inspected the farm on August 12. The owner was asked to produce the relevant documents within two days.

Mr. Keshavanathan, accompanied by his advocate, appeared before the Erode Range Officer on Friday and submitted the documents sought by the department, including the registration certificate of the previous owner from whom he had acquired the three Lar gibbons.

On examining the documents, officials found that the possession of the Lar gibbons had not been registered within the prescribed period. A case was subsequently registered under Section 49M(8) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

The verification also revealed that seven African serval cats at the farm had not been registered. One had been purchased from Hyderabad and three from Kerala, while three others had been born at the facility. The seven serval cats, including the three offspring, have also been included in the case. It is learnt that only a fine will be imposed for this.

District Forest Officer-Erode K.V. Appala Naidu told The Hindu that the case had been registered in connection with the possession of exotic live animals in violation of the registration requirements. A decision on the seizure of the two Lar gibbons remaining at the farm would be taken by the Chief Wildlife Warden, he said.

Published - August 14, 2026 08:35 pm IST