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-Short Attention Span Theater-
South Africa's smoking chimp dies
2010-10-07
[Daily Nation (Kenya)] 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 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 Khedama.

"He was on serious medications and in and out of the vet," 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 realize it will be almost impossible to replace a character like Charlie," he added.
Posted by:Fred

#5  Mojo: The Baron, Mara Hari, and other agents of CHUMP are now on your trail...
Posted by: borgboy   2010-10-07 17:08  

#4  there may be some truth in that, My faher smoked and AFTER the doctors told him to quit, he died.
About a year later.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2010-10-07 14:32  

#3  Lancelot Link, agent of APE?
Posted by: mojo   2010-10-07 12:49  

#2  "10 years longer than the average Chimpanzee" > SSSSSOOOOOO IIUC, "CHARLIE" is living proof that SMOKING PER SE IS GOOD FOR [Humans]LIVING LONGER???

Conversely, to NOT SMOKE = STOP SMOKING is what will truly kill ya???

Dat sound you hear is the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY + ALIGNED panicking + scrambling to avoid the credibility issues of the MMGW Perts.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-10-07 00:56  

#1  The zoo is looking for a new companion for his widow Judy....

Best not to re-engage for a year or so. Let the grieving process take it's natural course. Travel, play some golf, visit old friends up-country.

Posted by: Besoeker   2010-10-07 00:38  

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