“People often throw things into the animals cages and the orangutan learns how to use these objects by seeing how people use them.”
A shocking video has captured a sickening moment of an orangutan smoking a cigarette in front of visitors at a zoo in Vietnam.
The orangutan – originally from Borneo – is critically endangered in the wild.
The 45-second footage shows the male orangutan casually holding the cigarette in his left hand after it was thrown into its enclosure at a zoo in Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City.
The animal sitting on the floor of his enclosure is seen taking two long drags on the cigarette while visitors crowded at his pen are heard laughing, bemused by his antics.
The orangutan then stubs out the cigarette carefully on some stones.
He even checks the butt like a seasoned smoker to see if it is out properly before throwing it away.
According to zoo staff members,orangutans are intelligent animals and often pick up human behaviour.
“People often throw things into the animals cages and the orangutan learns how to use these objects by seeing how people use them,” a zoo spokesman said
He added that it is not possible for security guards to follow each visitor and be aware of what’s happening.
‘Zoos should be shut’
The clip has sparked outrage amongst animal lovers and activists at the disgusting ways animals are treated.
Voicing their opinion online, one user wrote: “Everyone smokes in Saigon, I guess someone showed the orangutan how to smoke. I’ve seen it done before. Appalling.
“Poor thing locked up and copying human traits. I don’t find it funny, just sad at what we do to these obviously intelligent animals,” another added:
A third commented: “Hate these places. I’ve never taken my kids to a zoo!!they should all be shut!!”
Share this story: Outrage sparked by video of orangutan smoking cigarette in Vietnam’s zoo.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God