Zoo tries to break chimp's smoking habit [Chimp quits smoking after 16 years]

Associated Press via The Billings Gazette ^ | October 6, 2005 | Associated Press

[BigSkyFreeper]

BEIJING - A nicotine-addicted chimpanzee is kicking her 16-year-old habit using dumplings and pop music.

The chimp, Ai Ai, began scavenging cigarette butts left by visitors at the Qinling Safari Park in the late 1980's after her first mate, Jian Jian, died, the official China Daily newspaper said.

Zookeepers eventually began giving Ai Ai cigarettes of her own and lighting them, the paper said. She was smoking between eight and 10 cigarettes a day before zookeepers decided in August to help her kick the habit. The paper said Ai Ai tended to smoke more when she was lonely or depressed.

Chinese meat dumplings, pop music and walks have been used to distract 26-year-old Ai Ai from her cravings and to keep her from begging noisily for cigarettes.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Up In Smoke!

[Smokin' Joe]

Looks really relaxed to me. Sure beats chucking poop at the glass....

[SIDENET]

Let the poor chimp have her smokes.

[endthematrix]

Watch the poor monkey will start swilling gin.

[Smokin' Joe]

With rasins?

[gcruse]

The kiddyfication of smoky backroom is complete.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The chimp should be the Smoky Backroom's mascot.

[gcruse]

Heh. You're right.

[CSM]

Puff Ping! Happy Friday!

[N. Theknow]

Chimp goes cold turkey - Gets monkey off his back.

[Gabz]

LOL!!!!

[SheLion]

Puff Ping! Happy Friday!

Now he will gain 200 pounds! Be fun to watch this.

[stainlessbanner]

I'd walk a mile....

[discostu]

Nothing funnier than a smoking chimp.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

In Dublin Zoo, the chimps have to go outside....

[Neocon Alley]

Looks sorta like Michael Moore....

[Irish_Thatcherite]

I don't see any burgers....

[Brad’s Gramma]

Click dat pic

Click dat pic

[Madame Dufarge]

For the children....

[cowboyway]

She was smoking between eight and 10 cigarettes a day

But, she didn't inhale!