Up in Smoke: Booie, the smoking chimpanzee, dies at 44

[onedef92]

Booie, the smoking chimpanzee, dies at 44

Posted: 9:07pm on Dec 14, 2011;
Modified: 9:15pm on Dec 14, 2011

LOS ANGELES — A chimpanzee that kicked a smoking habit and used sign language to beg for candy has died at a California animal refuge.

Martine Colette of the Wildlife WayStation says Booie was being treated for a heart condition when he died Saturday at 44. The chimp had been living at the animal sanctuary near Los Angeles since 1995, after he retired from a research lab.

Colette says she turned Booie into a non-smoker but couldn't fix his sweet tooth. She says he would use his skill to panhandle by signing: "Booie see sweet in pocket."

Booie's death is a serious blow to the financially troubled refuge because he was one of its best fundraisers. Martine says he had fans around the world because of his TV appearances.

[neece]

Bye bye Booie......

[neece]

Seriously though....

When I lived in Miami as a kid, there was a primate sanctuary called Monkey Jungle. We took my grandpa there once when he came to visit. There was a gorilla there that smoked cigars.