Bangalore: If you have thought only humans smoke, then you may be proven wrong after watching an elephant smoke. The elephant belonging to Karnataka’s Nagarahole National Park was captured on video, where she can be seen blowing big puffs.
According to WCS India scientist and elephant biologist Dr Varun Goswami, “the elephant was trying to ingest wood charcoal. She appeared to be picking up something from the burnt forest floor, blowing away the ash that came along with it in her trunk, and consuming the rest”.
Charcoal is known for its toxin-binding properties. Although charcoal may not have nutritional value, wild animals get attracted to it for its medicinal value, that also serves as a laxative. As per the reports, wild animals are often seen consuming it after forest fires and lightning strikes.
Recently an orangutan, resident of an Indonesian zoo, was seen smoking a real cigarette like a pro. He picked up a cigarette butt that was flicked into its zoo enclosure by a visitor.
The images of the Bornean orangutan named Ozon at the zoo in Bandung, about 150 kilometres (93 miles) southeast of Jakarta, had gone instantaneously viral.