Lawsuit: Amusement park lets chimpanzee smoke cigarettes

Image: ALDF

NEW ORLEANS - An animal rights group is suing to get a chimpanzee named Candy out of an amusement park where, it says, she smokes cigarettes and is given soft drinks instead of water.

The federal lawsuit says Candy is in an inadequate cage at the Baton Rouge park, and should be moved to a sanctuary.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund sued Tuesday in Baton Rouge on behalf of two women who have campaigned to get Candy moved from the Dixie Landin' park. The lawsuit says the women have seen visitors throw lit cigarettes into Candy's cage for the chimp to smoke.

Attorney Carter Dillard says the lawsuit is the first filed under a new federal rule that requires captive chimps get the same protection as wild chimps.

Park owner Sam Haynes did not immediately respond to a request for comment.