A viral video of actor and playback singer Chiyaan Vikram interacting with a Lar Gibbon has triggered a wildlife controversy, with activists questioning whether the primate is being kept legally. What began as a celebrity social media moment has quickly escalated into a debate on exotic animal ownership, wildlife law and the message celebrities send when wild animals are portrayed as pets. The key question is whether the Lar Gibbon has a legally verifiable paper trail under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and CITES-linked regulations. “Following the 2022 amendment, CITES-listed species such as the Lar Gibbon must be registered with the Chief Wildlife Warden through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal. Naidu argues that celebrity images with exotic wildlife can unintentionally glamourise ownership and create aspirational demand, even when the legal status of the animal remains unclear.