New Delhi (PTI): Noting that health of captive animals is affected due to smoking by visitors to the zoos, a prominent animal rights group on Wednesday sought a ban on smoking in such areas as well.

The demand has come in the wake of the health ministry's notification imposing ban on smoking in the public places.

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written to the CZA, an autonomous government body, to implement the notification in the zoos as well, as "passive smoking is injurious to the animal's health too."

The Authority must follow the progressive steps of the health ministry and ban smoking in zoos which are public places, Chief functionary of PETA India, Anuradha Sawhney said, adding "animals who are incarcerated in the zoos suffer equally due to passive smoking".

She pointed out that visitors have been found deliberately smoking on the face of animals.

"It has also been found that monkeys were handed cigarettes to 'smoke'. The mischief-makers would even try to stub animals with the burning cigarettes just for 'fun'," she added.