Should smoking be banned at the zoo? - story with pic

[Kadie]

In this Sept. 14, 2011, photo released by the Centre for Orangutan Protection, Tori, a five-year-old male orangutan, smokes at the Taru Jurug Zoo in Solo, central Java, Indonesia. A wildlife activist said, unlike Malaysia, zoo officials in Indonesia are taking no steps to help smoking orangutans kick the habit. Visitors to the zoo have been giving cigarettes to the red apes for years.


Activist says Indonesian zoo lets orangutans smoke
AP – 2 hours 5 minutes ago

INDONESIA, Jakarta (AP) — A wildlife activist says that zoo officials in Indonesia are taking no steps to stop orangutans from smoking cigarettes, unlike in Malaysia.

Visitors to the Taru Jurug Zoo in Solo, a city on Java island, have been giving cigarettes to the endangered red apes for years.

One young male was captured on video shortly before his death in 2009 smoking with his 5-year-old son.

Hardi Baktiantoro, director of the Center for Orangutan Protection, said Friday the youngster can still be seen puffing away at the zoo today as keepers look on.

http://my.news.yahoo.com/activist-says-indonesian-zoo-lets-orangutans-smoke-132407407.html



:shrug:

[ChandlerJr]

1. Not if it helps them relieve the stress of being held against their will

in captivity. Give'em all a jug of cheap booze too if it would help.

[Pool Hall Ace]

2. How about just banning zoos?

Then the animals would have less of a reason to smoke.