S.Africa's smoking chimp dies
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JOHANNESBURG - A CHIMPANZEE famous for smoking cigarettes died at a South African zoo, after puffing until age 52, despite zookeepers' efforts to help him kick the habit, an official said on Wednesday.
Charlie the chimp started smoking after visitors to the zoo in central Bloemfontein tossed him a lit cigarette, which he picked up and stuck in his mouth, aping the human onlookers.
The trick earned laughs, encouraging more people to feed his habit. For years zookeepers tried in vain to convince people to stop abetting him.
In the end, Charlie lived 10 years longer than the average chimp, so his addiction did not end his life prematurely, zoo spokesman Qondile Khedama told AFP. An autopsy would determine whether smoking had caused his death, said Mr Khedama.
'He was on serious medications and in and out of the vet,' Mr Khedama told AFP.
'Charlie was very old for a chimp, and even though he has been receiving special care, and a special diet including protein shakes, vitamin and mineral supplements, he succumbed to old age.' The zoo is looking for a new companion for his widow Judy, 'although we realise it will be almost impossible to replace a character like Charlie,' he added. -- AFP
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It was a happy chimp. Probably the body got so used to it, that without it, it couldnt have survived.
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did I ever tell you guys about my old plutonian landlord's pet rat ? ......
it died a happy rat ... on johnny walker .....
we started it out on beer, then onto black label ....
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sorta like my hamster loved bak kwa and chicken wings?
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Haiz
RIP
smoking ruin human
now smoking ruin animals
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Originally posted by the Bear:
sorta like my hamster loved bak kwa and chicken wings?
My dog used to eat yogurts and even can eat chilli padi too >__> -
My dad used to give my dog Cognac when it catches a cold. It seemed to work though