Bandung, Indonesia: Indonesia can now add a smoking orangutan to its roster of nicotine addicts.

A video taken on Sunday shows the beast picking up a cigarette butt that was flicked into its zoo enclosure by a visitor and then puffing away on it like a pro.

The images of 22-year-old Bornean orangutan Ozon at the zoo in Bandung, about 150 kilometres (93 miles) southeast of Jakarta, promptly went viral.

This not the first that a zoo orangutan has been caught sneaking a smoke in Indonesia, which has an abysmal record of animal protection and one of the world’s highest smoking rates.

In 2012 a great ape at another zoo became a nicotine addict after picking up butts, and had to be forced to quit cold turkey.

A zoo spokesman on Wednesday said that while the incident was regrettable, it has staff to guard the animal enclosures.

But the officer responsible may have been in the bathroom at the time, he added.

“There’s actually a sign at the location which says visitors are not allowed to give food and cigarettes to the animals,” said the spokesman.

Animal activists condemned the visitor’s actions but said it underlined the poor state of Indonesia’s zoos.

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“Weak control by zoo management also needs to be addressed,” said an animal welfare advocate.

“But the root of the problem is that we do not have animal welfare standards at zoos. Almost all zoos are in poor condition… from the cages and feeding needs to the animals’ health.”

Last year, activists demanded the closure of Bandung zoo after skeletal sun bears were pictured begging for food from visitors and eating their own dung.

Bandung

Bandung is the capital of West Java, Indonesia, famously known as the “Paris of Java” for its European-style architecture and vibrant arts and fashion scene. Historically, it was the site of the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference, a pivotal meeting of formerly colonized nations that played a major role in the Cold War non-alignment movement.

Indonesia

Indonesia is a Southeast Asian archipelago nation comprising over 17,000 islands, with a rich history shaped by powerful Hindu-Buddhist empires, the spread of Islam, and European colonialism. Its diverse cultural heritage is reflected in ancient sites like the 9th-century Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, and the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan. Today, it is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country and is renowned for its vast biodiversity and vibrant traditions.

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia, founded in the 4th century as the Hindu port of Sunda Kelapa. It was later conquered and renamed “Batavia” by the Dutch East India Company, serving as the center of the colonial Dutch East Indies for centuries before becoming the modern capital after Indonesia’s independence.

Bornean orangutan

The Bornean orangutan is a critically endangered great ape native to the rainforests of Borneo. Historically widespread across the island, its population has drastically declined due to habitat loss from deforestation, hunting, and the illegal pet trade. These highly intelligent primates are a vital part of their ecosystem and are a key focus of intense conservation efforts.

Bandung zoo

Bandung Zoo, also known as Kebun Binatang Bandung, is one of the oldest zoos in Indonesia, established by the Dutch colonial government in the 1930s. It was created as a botanical and zoological garden to conserve local wildlife and serve as a recreational area. Today, it remains a popular destination for families, housing a diverse collection of animals from Indonesia and around the world.