Malayalam superstar Mohanlal has declared 10 elephant tusks and 13 divine ivory idols to the Kerala Forest Department under its one-time wildlife amnesty scheme. The scheme followed Kerala High Court observations that prompted the government to amend wildlife rules and create a mechanism for voluntary declaration of animal articles in private possession. The collection, weighing roughly 46 kg, will undergo DNA verification, and Mohanlal has said much of it was inherited or gifted.
The declaration comes as the actor remains on trial over an earlier case, which began after a 2011 income-tax raid on his residence.
The move has elicited mixed reactions. Some netizens and fans view it as a responsible step toward compliance, while critics question the timing and implications for wildlife enforcement. "The amnesty aims to regularize legacy possessions but does not automatically resolve ongoing prosecutions," a conservationist commented.
Mohanlal has, in recent months, acted in films like Drishyam 3 and Patriot. While the former is a sequel to Drishyam 2, the latter co-starred Mammootty and Nayanthara. Last Christmas, he was seen in Vrusshabha.
