He was captured as a baby  in Africa and, from a young age, was exploited by a restaurant owner in Lebanon, where he was given cigarettes and was forced to serve hookah from table to table. As a teenager, he was transferred to a poor zoo in the country and lived there until 2010.

Because he was known as the smoking chimpanzee, the zoo keepers and visitors themselves would throw cigarettes to him. After several complaints, he was rescued by an international NGO. On November 9, 2010, Omega’s life changed completely. He was welcomed with open arms at the Anami Institute Sanctuary. He had a suffering and distrustful expression, but gradually, he gained trust and became a very cooperative and calm chimpanzee.

Omega went through a period of cigarette withdrawal. It was strictly forbidden for any staff member to smoke near him. Little by little, he adapted. Another challenge was to integrate him with another chimpanzee to reduce the harmful effects of isolation. In 2012, Omega left solitude behind and met Judy, his faithful companion to this day.