A female chimpanzee in a Chinese zoo has managed to kick the habit after smoking for 16 years. Ai Ai, 27, first took up smoking after her mate died in 1989.

After a second spouse died in 1997 and her daughter was moved to another zoo, the broken-hearted chimp’s health reportedly started deteriorating.

So she has been forced to kick the habit cold turkey.

One zookepper said, ‘In the first few days, she squealed for cigarettes every now and then. But as her life became more colourful, she gradually forgot about them altogether.’

Her new, busy lifestyle includes walking after breakfast, exercising in the evening and being served ‘fried dishes and dumplings at every meal’ on top of bananas, rice and milk.

It is not clear how Ai Ai developed her addiction, and whether she was first given cigarettes from the same guardians who have helped her quit.
Source: BBC News