Russian athlete who gave cigarette to orangutan faces harsh criticism

Young Russian boxer Anastasia Luchkina’s actions have drawn sharp criticism not only from the public but also from environmental organizations. A video of her smoking an e-cigarette at the “Taigan” zoo and even handing it to an orangutan has gone viral on social media, reported the Telegram channel shot.

In the footage, she is seen repeating this dangerous behavior several times. Recently, it was revealed that the same orangutan — named "Dana", the only one of its kind in Crimea — is now exhibiting disturbing behavior.

Experts report that the animal has lost its appetite, refuses to interact with people, and lies motionless throughout the day. This indicates a serious health concern.

It is suspected that the orangutan may have swallowed the e-cigarette cartridge, which contains around 2.5–3 ml of nicotine liquid. If ingested, this can lead to severe intoxication. Veterinarians are continuing the examination, and the results are expected in the coming days.

Anastasia Luchkina’s coach, Vladimir Akatov, gave a brief comment to journalists:
— I didn’t know Anastasia was a smoker. She is currently on vacation. We will definitely discuss this matter when she returns, he said.

For reference, “Dana” has been living in the Crimean zoo since 2018 and belongs to an endangered orangutan species listed in the Red Book. She is the only orangutan of her kind in all of Crimea.

Many users and ecologists insist that official measures be taken, and the boxer be held accountable. They argue that while a human’s mistake can be forgiven, harming an animal is an unforgivable error. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!