April 18, 2005

South African zoo wants chimp to kick smoking habit

"Baby chimps pick up habits by mimicking adults and we think he started mimicking smokers at his enclosure which probably led to smokers throwing him cigarettes."...He's not the only smoking chimpanzee. You may remember Feili, a chimpanzee in China's Zhengzou zoo who also took up smoking. Chimpanzees are an endangered species.

posted by PY 19 years ago
  • Zoos and jails have so much in common already -- why deny a chimp his smokes? I, for one, am outraged, that the zoo should display such rampant Speciesism, projecting human health dictates onto our fellow monkey! Fight for your rights, Charlie! We stand behind our brother monkey! OK, maybe I'm not outraged. Maybe I just want to see a chimp smoking. Maybe get those rubbery lips sucking on a nice Corona. That'd be awesome..!
  • This story is all kinds of sad.
  • Throwing cigarettes and cans of soda at monkeys? what kind of hellspawned zoo is this?
  • Is Big Tobacco targeting chimps now? They must be STOPPED.
  • It won't be easy trying to get The Patch to stick to a chimp.
  • What will they do after sex?
  • Now I need a cigarette
  • And a Matzo
  • So, she's gone from smoking to eating fried foods and dumplings? Neither option sounds really good.
  • Well, as someone who's also trying to kick the fags (UK usage), I can totally understand the need for comfort food. Go for it, chimpy.
  • Good luck to the chimp and kitfisto. It's not easy, but it's doable.
  • A bit like kitfisto himself.. *ahem*
  • Good luck, kitfisto! It's a hell of a battle, but one you'll be proud of winning for the rest of your life.
  • Thanks. Now fire up that toaster, I'm hungry...
  • Don't be a quitter, kit. All the cool kids are doing it. You're one of the cool kids, right? You're an artist. Artists are all about self-destruction. Thanatos is good for your art. Light up. Draw back the smoke. Send the crackling tongues of fire deep into your lungs. Feel your power. Expound your breath, and define your space in a larger world. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh... That feels soooooooooo goooooooooood, doesn't it? /Devil's advocate
  • You bar-steward!
  • Having the power to cradle fire in one's hand, waving the glowing ember about, in a show of your strength and mastery... The slight tug of resistance opening the celophane on a fresh pack, delicately folding back the foil, seeing the new cigarettes all lined up and waiting to serve your whimsy...
  • *inserts snooker balls into sock...*
  • Exhaling the smoke, releasing ephemeral sculptures in the air, twisting, billowing, before vanishing, and you start the game anew...
  • Bad Capt.! Best of luck to you Kit. I did it myself earler this year, and still struggle with the occasional urge. I would advise you to stay away from pubs & other smokey places for at least six months: the two times I caved were both while out dancing & drinking with friends. Thankfully, if you don't have one for about a month and then smoke, they taste NASTY and will make you sick.
  • What minda25 said ... except I quit 2 years ago! And I had been smoking since I was 16! You can do it. Think of all the extra money you'll have.
  • I've been smoking since I was 14, so get stunned, you late developer... *Goes to hang round the offy*
  • I started at 14, kit...
  • crawly bumlick!
  • Joey Deacon!