Video of male ape smoking a cigarette in zoo goes viral; netizens call it ‘appalling’

A video of a male ape smoking a cigarette in a zoo has irked animal lovers and activists across the world.

In the viral video, a critically endangered orangutan can be seen enjoying his cigarette like a human being while sitting on the floor of its enclosure.

The male ape is seen holding the cigarette between his fingers like a human. The act of the orangutan dragged the visitors repeatedly at Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City.

Click here to watch the video

As per reports, the endangered ape came to Vietnam from Borneo.

A spokesperson for the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens told media personnel that the orangutan found the cigarette after it was thrown in by a visitor. He further clarified that cigarette was not provided by the zoo staff.

"People often throw things into the animals' cages and the orangutan learns how to use these objects by seeing how people use them," the spokesperson.

Despite the clarification given by the zoo authorities, netizens got irked over the viral video.

One of the users said, "I guess someone showed the orangutan how to smoke. I’ve seen it done before. Appalling. I guess it makes the humans feel more powerful, that they’ve addicted this being to a harmful substance.”

Another wrote, "Everyone smokes in Saigon, I guess someone showed the orangutan how to smoke. I’ve seen it done before. Appalling.”

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