Smoking chimp evacuated from Lebanon zoo to sanctuary in Brazil

Animal rights activists have rescued a 12-year-old chimpanzee from a zoo in Lebanon, after it was discovered the animal had developed a cigarette habit.



Omega, who has reportedly never climbed a tree or been in an environment with other chimpanzees, began smoking after visitors to a now-defunct zoo in Ansar began throwing lit cigarettes into his cage.

It was not the primate's first exposure to nicotine. Omega had previously been used in a local restaurant, where he served water pipes to customers and would occasionally smoke cigarettes.



Following his rescue on Monday, Omega will now reside in the Vargem Grande Paulista Sanctuary, a dedicated chimpanzee reserve in Sao Paulo.