Zoo hopes smoking chimp will kick the habit

BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa – A South African zoo wants a chimpanzee to quit smoking cold turkey.

Keepers say Charlie the chimpanzee picked up the habit from visitors at the Bloemfontein Zoo who sometimes toss him lit cigarettes.

“It looks funny to see a chimp smoking,” a zoo spokesman said, but Charlie’s trick could cost him his health.

The zoo is asking people to stop tossing cigarettes and contributing to the chimp’s habit.

A zoo official says Charlie “acts like a naughty schoolboy” and hides his cigarettes when workers are around.