Zoo ‘treats’ turn chimp into alcohol, nicotine addict
February 27th, 2010 - 2:39 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Feb 27 (IANS) Frequent “treats” by visitors made a zoo inmate, Zhora the chimp, an alcoholic and nicotine addict, a Russian daily said.
Zoo authorities in Rostov — 200 km northeast of Moscow — were quoted by Komsomolskaya Pravda as saying Zhora, who had been brought to the zoo from the Tatarstan republic five years ago, was to be taken back to the republic for treatment in early March.
They said visitors at the zoo frequently gave the chimp, a former circus artist, alcohol and cigarettes which eventually led to heavy addiction, said a Ria Novosti report.
“We asked visitors not to give him (alcohol and cigarettes), but it was all in vain,” the Rostov zoo deputy head was quoted by the paper as saying.
Although Zhora was kept behind three rows of fences, visitors managed to throw bottles and cigarettes at him, Nadezhda Yeutushenko said.
“People laugh when they see an animal drinking (alcohol) and smoking, but vicious habits damage (the animal’s) health, and many do not understand this,” zoo workers said.
- Boozy Chimpanzee Sent To Rehab - Feb 28, 2010
- 'Charlie the Smoking Chimp' dies at 52 - Oct 07, 2010
- Five Russian journalists set free by Libyan rebels - Apr 09, 2011
- Gang jailed for paedophile tours to Moldova - May 30, 2012
- Compound used to treat nicotine addiction may also fight alcoholism - Oct 24, 2010
- Putin's poll promises to cost state $170 bn - Feb 17, 2012
- Chechnya leader supports polygamy, wants second wife - Feb 25, 2011
- Russian walks 9,000-km home after being robbed - Sep 07, 2011
- Nicotine reduction strategy 'should be made an urgent research priority' - Oct 02, 2010
- Russian mosque has world's largest Quran - Feb 18, 2012
- Want to quit smoking? Get professional help - Jan 04, 2011
- Putin unaffected by assassination plot - Feb 28, 2012
- Russian pilot dies of heart attack mid-flight - Jan 21, 2012
- Orphaned grizzlies sent to the Montana zoo - Dec 21, 2010
- Bhagwan Birsa Zoo in Jharkhand launches animal adoption programme - Nov 20, 2010
Tags: addiction, authorities, chimp, cigarettes, circus artist, deputy head, drinking alcohol, fences, Health Science, komsomolskaya pravda, moscow, nicotine, nicotine addict, ria novosti, rostov, tatarstan republic, zoo workers