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This sheep has a very unusual bad habit.

The woolly creature is a smoker and addicted to nicotine.

It will even go to extreme lengths to get its fix and is regularly spotted outside tea shops and markets where it tries to sneak cigarettes from people.

And it's love of nicotine is so strong, the sheep will even shun its usual diet of green and veg for tobacco.

The animal lives in Mandya, in the state of Karnataka, India.

(Image: NewsFlare)

The sheep's owner, Yahwant, told Newsflare : "It could be seen licking discarded sachets of chewing tobacco.

"The addiction grew and now it prefers cigarettes to its regular fodder."

If the desperate sheep can't get it usual hit of a cigarette, it has been known to snack on beedies, which are handrolled and made from unprocessed tobacco and wrapped in leaves.

It also likes chewing tobacco.

(Image: NewsFlare)

Farmers near Manya sometimes use tobacco to rid animals of parasites and worms.

And if an animal becomes really ill, they are often given tobacco in large quantities.

But experts say ingesting nicotine could have a devastating impact on animals.

It can cause excessive salivation, excitement, tremors, vomiting, lack of coordination, weakness, convulsions, respiratory failure and even death.