A Malaysian wildlife official says a captive orangutan often spotted smoking cigarettes given to her by zoo visitors is being forced to kick the habit.
Government authorities seized the adult ape named Shirley from a state-run zoo in Malaysia's southern Johor state last week after she and several other animals there were deemed to be living in poor conditions.
Shirley is now being quarantined at another zoo in a neighbouring state and is expected to be sent to a wildlife center on Borneo island within weeks.
Melaka Zoo Director Ahmad Azhar Mohammed said Monday that Shirley is not being provided with any more cigarettes because "smoking is not normal behaviour for orangutans."
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