Call it an orangutan detox facility.
It's an island in the middle of a lake in Indonesia's Taru Jurug Zoo, and it's where Tori, the smoking orangutan, will be spending her days.
The 13-year-old primate picked up the habit by grabbing still-burning butts discarded in her enclosure by zoo visitors and imitating their actions, zoo officials told the Jakarta Globe.
Signs warned against the practice, but zoo visitors paid no heed, the zoo's director, Lilik Kristianto, told the Globe.
“A common problem for zoos in Indonesia are naughty visitors,” the director is quoted as saying. “Although there are sign prohibiting them from giving food or cigarettes to the animals, they keep on doing it. It is not rare that visitors even hurt the animals.”
Besides keeping puffing visitors at a safe distance, the island will have other advantages over the concrete cage Tori has called home at the zoo in Solo.
“Tori can climb five big trees on the island. This might be the best orangutan enclosure in Indonesia,” the zoo director is quoted as saying.
Tori isn't alone on the island. A male, Didik, has joined her.
But Didik has no need for rehab. While Tori would puff on the butts, Didik used to stamp them out, the Globe reported.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
So, does this mean Biden is in charge?
So she's a smoker. I bet she's a lot more fun to go drinking with than that chimp wannabe that keeps putting them out.
Just like humans copying what they see others do. One dumb one that picks up a stupid habit and another who was smart enough not and stomped those dirty cigs out.
Sorry abuser.
I am your drug.
This is just soo sad at what those ignorant and disrespectful Taru Jurug zoo-goer idiots who toss cigarettes into the orangutan's cage do for entertainment in watching the orangutan smoking a cigarette. I not only blame those zoo-goer cigarette-tossers, but the zoo staff in not doing anything to stop it once the zoo-goers started tossing the cigarettes into the orangutan's enclosure. Just like us humans, orangutan's can also get lung cancer from smoking. At least Tori's partner hadn't decided to do the nasty, smelly habit!!!
It's good to see Lucille Ball get the help she needs.
I'd hate to be around this orangutan when she goes thru nicotine withdrawal...
Boo...
Sounds like something only a true bonified
monkey would say. My favorite monkey, is a fraud. Thinks he can control people, monkeys, cages; even Nanners, but he can't catch me!
LUCY, I'm home!
Take a number...