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No More Cigarettes for Smoking Orangutan

'Shirley' forced to quit cigarettes before move to new wildlife center

By Mark Russell, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2011 3:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – A chain-smoking orangutan who achieved notoriety when she became a symbol of Malaysia's horrid zoo conditions has been forced to quit her tobacco habit, reports the AP. The 20-year-old orangutan, Shirley, would smoke lit cigarettes thrown to her by zoo visitors. But now Malaysian wildlife officials have removed her from that facility and are preparing her to join a wildlife center on Borneo.

The zoo director says Shirley is not being provided with any more cigarettes while she is in quarantine because "smoking is not normal behavior for orangutans." He adds that the move hasn't affected her mood or appetite. After a British animal activist group started an embarrassing campaign against Malaysian animal facilities earlier this year, wildlife officials took steps to improve conditions for animals in zoos there.

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Malaysian wildlife authorities have removed the smoking orangutan "Shirley" from her zoo and have started weening her from cigarettes. Shirley will be send to a wildlife center in Borneo soon. (NatureAlert)

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A Malaysian orangutan named "Shirley" used to smoke constantly, as zoo visitors would throw her lit cigarettes. (Youtube)

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No More Cigarettes for Smoking Orangutan

'Shirley' forced to quit cigarettes before move to new wildlife center

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