Charlie, a cigarette-smoking South African chimp, dies
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
JOHANNESBURG — Charlie the smoking chimpanzee has died.
Qondile Khedama, a spokesman for the central South African city of Bloemfontein where Charlie had been a fixture at the small zoo, says the chimp died Tuesday, apparently of old age. Charlie was believed to be 52.
Khedama says zoo officials noticed about five years ago that visitors were tossing Charlie cigarettes, and he was mimicking smokers. Khedama says zookeepers tried to stop visitors from encouraging Charlie in a habit many humans are trying to quit.
Newspapers picked up the story. Charlie was featured in a U.S. TV news report and became the first animal visitors would ask to see.
Khedama says Charlie’s body will be mounted and displayed in an area featuring other preserved, popular zoo residents.
RELATED CHIMPANZEE NEWS:
Decision to move chimpanzees from New Mexico research facility stirs debate about their future
Dodge removes Suzie the chimp from its Tent Event commercial
-- Associated Press