Actor Vikram video case: 11 exotic animals likely to be shifted to Vandalur zoo

Actor Vikram video case: 11 exotic animals probable to be shifted to Vandalur zoo The animals were seized from a farmhouse belonging to S.K.

Key points

• Keshavanathan, the owner of the Lar gibbons shown in a recent video involving actor Vikram.
• The Forest Department has approached a court seeking permission to shift the animals to the zoo, citing its inability to maintain them.
• As the animals are of exotic species, they could be transported only by a registered breeder under the supervision of the Forest Department, sources remarked that.
• Nevertheless, the decision to release the animals back to their owner or permit their transfer to a zoo rests with the court.
• As the department did not have the facilities to maintain the exotic animals, its personnel were deputed to the farmhouse to monitor them.

Meanwhile, the 11 exotic animals seized by the Forest Department from a farmhouse in Perundurai, including two Lar gibbons, seven African serval cats, and two tufted capuchin monkeys, are probable to be shifted to the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur in Chennai on Thursday.

For context, the farmhouse belonged to S.K. Keshavanathan, the owner of the Lar gibbons shown in a recent video involving actor Vikram. After the video, the Forest Department inspected the farmhouse and seized the animals.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department has approached a court seeking permission to shift the animals to the zoo, citing its inability to maintain them. The court, on Tuesday, issued a notice to Mr. Keshavanathan seeking his response. The court's order on the department's plea is projected on Thursday.

K.V. Appala Naidu, District Forest Officer, Erode, informed The Hindu that the animals were seized as per procedure and that the department had sought the court's permission to transfer them to a zoo. Nevertheless, the decision to release the animals back to their owner or permit their transfer to a zoo rests with the court.

As the animals are of exotic species, they could be transported only by a registered breeder under the supervision of the Forest Department, sources remarked that. The animals have remained under the control of the Forest Department since it registered a case against Mr. Keshavanathan on August 14 under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and the relevant rules governing the possession and registration of live animal species.

Meanwhile, the case was registered for failing to register three Lar gibbons within the stipulated 30-day period after acquiring them from their previous owner and for not informing the Forest Department regarding the death of one of the animals. As the department did not have the facilities to maintain the exotic animals, its personnel were deputed to the farmhouse to monitor them.

Meanwhile, the seized animals comprise two Lar gibbons – a male and a female, seven African serval cats – three males and four females, and two tufted capuchin monkeys – a male and a female.

For now, actor Vikram video case: 11 exotic animals likely to be shifted to remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.