Shocking clip shows Russian boxer giving VAPE to an endangered Orangutan; key details inside

Time of India

a day ago

A professional Russian boxer is facing major backlash after a video surfaced showing her offering a vape to an orangutan named Dana, who has been living at the Crimean Safari Park for the past seven years.
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The clip, which quickly went viral on social media, shows the primate taking the vape, puffing on it, and exhaling, all while being filmed.
The boxer, 24-year-old Anastasia Luchkina, is seen in the video taking a drag from the vape before passing it to Dana. What's even more concerning is that Dana is the park's only orangutan and a member of an endangered species. Things took an even darker turn, as the New York Post reported that Dana has shown signs of serious health deterioration since the incident: she's become lethargic, has stopped eating, and is avoiding contact.
Vets are worried that she may have swallowed the vape cartridge, which contains 2.5–3 ml of nicotine, a potentially toxic dose that could cause poisoning or intestinal blockage.
What may seem like a funny reel to some is, in reality, a deeply troubling case of dangerous negligence.
Social media didn't hold back. The comments section exploded with outrage. One user wrote, 'She should be arrested and imprisoned for life for endangering this innocent animal.'
PETA UK's Vice President, Mimi Bekhechi, called the act cruel and slammed the boxer, saying, 'She must have received a few too many knocks to the head if she thinks it's a lark to give an orangutan a vape.'
Meanwhile, Anastasia's coach, Vladimir Akatov, claimed he was unaware she even smoked. He added that she's currently on vacation and the issue would be addressed when she returns.
The incident has also raised larger questions about the safari park itself. Why was a vape allowed inside in the first place? Are there no legal or ethical safeguards when it comes to human-animal interactions in such facilities?
Dana, a gentle and intelligent creature who has called the park her home since 2018, deserves far better than this.