Smoking Orangutan Tori Apes Humans As She Lights Up In Indonesian Zoo

King Louie had a great desire to learn the secret of man’s red fire. Well, while the Jungle Book’s king of swing may not have persuaded Mowgli it seems one of his queens has got hold of it.

Unfortunately, Disney should have seen this coming. Tori the orangutan has become addicted to cigarettes. Now keepers are putting her on a strict regime in an effort to break her ten-year habit.

Tori’s parents also smoked, although her partner at Jurug Animal Park in Java, Indonesia, refuses.

Instead, he stamps them out. She learned to smoke by imitating visitors and initially she smoked cigarette butts they tossed at her.

But now when she has a craving, Tori holds two fingers to her mouth to ask visitors for cigarettes. If they refuse, she gets angry and throws things in their direction.

The Center for Orangutan Protection is to move Tori and three other orangutans to a small, remote island in the zoo where there will not be access to cigarettes.

It is hoped features of the spacious new home will help distract Tori from any nicotine withdrawal symptoms she may have.