The pet chimpanzee story depresses me...

[brownie87]

I was really saddened when I heard about this. I'm really sorry for what happened to that lady who was attacked and hope she survives. On the other end of it, that woman who kept the chimp as a pet should have known better. People should not keep wild animals as domesticated pet, especially in small neighborhoods. Sorry, I feel really bad for that chimp. I hate when animals get hurt, or killed. Not that I'm downsizing anything that poor lady went through at all, but that poor chimp reacted violently because he was used to being out in the open, not stuck indoors in a cage. They shouldn't have shot him dead. They should have at least given him a tranquilizer and set him free into the wild.

[JamesG]

I was really saddened when I heard about this. I'm really sorry for what happened to that lady who was attacked and hope she survives. On the other end of it, that woman who kept the chimp as a pet should have known better. People should not keep wild animals as domesticated pet, especially in small neighborhoods. Sorry, I feel really bad for that chimp. I hate when animals get hurt, or killed. Not that I'm downsizing anything that poor lady went through at all, but that poor chimp reacted violently because he was used to being out in the open, not stuck indoors in a cage. They shouldn't have shot him dead. They should have at least given him a tranquilizer and set him free into the wild.

I'm sorry but I simply have to disagree with you here. In this situation killing the chimp was the only option.

Since the animal was raised young in a domesticated environment setting it loose into the wild would be worse. He wouldn't know how to survive on his own. When the animal was raised with everything he needed given to him he wouldn't know what to do. He did not naturally grow up with other chimps in the wild and learn life "their way".

[Chocoholic]

I agree with what James said. I also think any animal that harms a person totally unprovoked should be put down.

[brownie87]

I do understand that chimps tend to be pretty wild.

[WaterLoo]

I do find this story depressing as well. I happen to be an animal lover myself and think that certain animals should not be kept as pets, even if they are domesticated from an early age, because sooner or later, their wild instincts come raging out. It's natural.

And I hope you don't mind my saying this, but it seems as though anytime someone voices an opinion around here that isn't agreeable, some people seem to want to argue about it. It's okay if you have your own opinions, but you don't have to jump all over other people for not having the same opinion. There are alot of people who love animals and who feel very saddened about this story, and someone just wanted to voice their opinion on it. Then you just jumped all over his case for no reason. Voice you opinion, but please don't attack other people.

[JamesG]

And I hope you don't mind my saying this, but it seems as though anytime someone voices an opinion around here that isn't agreeable, some people seem to want to argue about it. It's okay if you have your own opinions, but you don't have to jump all over other people for not having the same opinion. There are alot of people who love animals and who feel very saddened about this story, and someone just wanted to voice their opinion on it. Then you just jumped all over his case for no reason. Voice you opinion, but please don't attack other people.

Well I don't know where this is coming from but in no way did I attack anyone. A disagreement is not an attack.

I did not jump on anyone or attack for no reason as you have suggested. That is the point of a messageboard, for one to share their views whether or not you agree with the poster or not.

A respectful and logical argument is not an attack.

[Yooch]

The whole situation saddens me, the lady who was attacked, the owner and the chimp itself. Keeping a wild animal is a big responsibility.

[brownie87]

Waterloo, I don't think anyone was being in any way disrespectful, or argumentative. In truth, the whole thing is very emotional and it gets everyone riled up. I appreciate differing opinions. No worries here, Water. I value other people's opinions, even if I might not share them.

[Hollow]

The whole situation saddens me, the lady who was attacked, the owner and the chimp itself. Keeping a wild animal is a big responsibility.
agreed. the owner is indeed partly to blame, but i feel sorry for her. she'd been raising him for 14 years, he'd cooperated in starring in commercials, she probably thought he was trained well enough to behave. it doesn't sound like something so horrific seemed bound to happen.

[brownie87]

It's all really upsetting.

[PunkyP0WER]

i hate to bring this up but on a disturbing sidenote there have been hints at beasteality. this mornings hartford courant (newspaper) in not so many words implied this with details of the owner and chimp taking baths together and sleeping in the same bed together "cuddling".

http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-apchimpface0220.artfeb20,0,7536823.story

[catlover79]

The whole story, all sides of it, is very sad. What a mess. :(

[Janice]

And I hope you don't mind my saying this, but it seems as though anytime someone voices an opinion around here that isn't agreeable, some people seem to want to argue about it. It's okay if you have your own opinions, but you don't have to jump all over other people for not having the same opinion. There are alot of people who love animals and who feel very saddened about this story, and someone just wanted to voice their opinion on it. Then you just jumped all over his case for no reason. Voice you opinion, but please don't attack other people.
Did somebody assign you as moderator and forget to tell me? Nobody attacked anybody. People are giving opinions.

[Lee]

Did somebody assign you as moderator and forget to tell me? Nobody attacked anybody. People are giving opinions.

Well said, Janice

[Pus$y Galore]

At first I wondered why they didn't use a tranquilizer on the chimp since the attack was over and he was found hiding in his pen (obviously knowing himself that what he did was wrong).

But unfortunately, as I said in the original thread, adult chimps tend to get "rage" (it also happens in some dogs).

Options I've thought of - tranq the chimp and take him to a zoo. That wouldn't work since it could take possibly months/years to introduce him to other chimps and to be able to get along. He wouldn't have even known what chimp behaviour is and probably would have ended up in a costly disaster. And sending him into the wild was definitely out (he was raised in captivity - he would never survive).

Unfortunately, they had no choice but to kill him. Once they start rage they don't get over it. They'll even kill and canibilize their own kind. It was too risky for any future for him. A chimp normally has 10 times the strength of a human male - when enraged that can up to a hundred times.

That's why these people who do keep wild animals have to realize that they could always be playing with a ticking time bomb. Look at Roy with the white tiger - he was the first one to admit that it wasn't the tiger's fault - that's what you have to expect when dealing with wild animals.

That's why as much of an animal lover as I am, for the good of us both, I admire them from a distance and with much respect.

[OH Nuts!]

Before the horrific mauling incident, I didi't know a whole lot about chimps but since this have done quite a bit of online research on them. They are basically like other wild animals - lions, tigers, bears, alligators etc. Many wild animals are "cute" and docile when they are VERY YOUNG, but eventually their wild instincts come out, usually by early adolescence, and only a qualified trainer should be handling them. Chimps and pandas, for example, look cute when their young, but they are WILD animals and will attack.

The more I learned abt chimps, the dimmer the view I have abt the owner. She should have known better. I know If I were thinking abt getting any kind of exotic animal I'd do research first with orgs devoted to their care. And all the chimp bds state that chimps DO NOT make good pets. When they are snatched from their mothers it creates a huge amt of trauma for them and when the chimps become too agressive for a home (usually around 5-6 yrs old) they can't be introduced into the wild. So their life ends up in a cage. Also an adult chimp has 5-7 times the strength of an adult human, and would think nothing abt tipping over a refrigerator if the idea got into its head.

If this woman REALLY CARED abt chimps she should have refrained from having one in the first place, and instead donated money or time to an org devoted to their care.

[Pus$y Galore]

^ Yep - you've done the research and that's exactly what they're like.

Even seeing a baby one in captivity now depresses me because I know the future for it (unless it's in a zoo).

And yes - Pandas are another animal that can be very vicious. They're pretty much up there with grizzlies and polar bears - it's just because they're smaller that people don't see the same danger.

Another cute critter that is known to be vicious - the Koala. Actually I was amazed at that video from Australia recently where the fireman could walk right up to it and give it water from a bottle. It just showed how desperate the poor thing was for water. Normally they'd run or attack.

I'm actually so thankful now that hollywood can do the special effects they can. Hopefully it will put these "animal trainers" out of business and wild animals will be kept in the wild, or good zoos from now on. Think of how out of place you'd feel if someone grabbed you from your family and plunked you down in the middle of Africa to live. It's the same in reverse for these animals. It's just not right.

[OH Nuts!]

^ Yep - you've done the research and that's exactly what they're like.

Even seeing a baby one in captivity now depresses me because I know the future for it (unless it's in a zoo).

And yes - Pandas are another animal that can be very vicious. They're pretty much up there with grizzlies and polar bears - it's just because they're smaller that people don't see the same danger.

Another cute critter that is known to be vicious - the Koala. Actually I was amazed at that video from Australia recently where the fireman could walk right up to it and give it water from a bottle. It just showed how desperate the poor thing was for water. Normally they'd run or attack.

I'm actually so thankful now that hollywood can do the special effects they can. Hopefully it will put these "animal trainers" out of business and wild animals will be kept in the wild, or good zoos from now on. Think of how out of place you'd feel if someone grabbed you from your family and plunked you down in the middle of Africa to live. It's the same in reverse for these animals. It's just not right.


Yep I'm with you 100% on all. Thank God for the special effects, bec. often these animals, which are being exploited, have to be euthanized afterwards.

[catlover79]

Yep I'm with you 100% on all. Thank God for the special effects, bec. often these animals, which are being exploited, have to be euthanized afterwards.
:yeahthat

[Zebra 3]

Last month I saw a fifth estate (http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/) documentary on animal abuse in film titled Cruel Camera (http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/cruelcamera/). In the second half they talked about chimps in Hollywood (http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/cruelcamera/chimps.html).

[Starson]

This is indeed, one of the most tragic stories imaginable.
First for the friend that was called to assist in regaining control over the already agitated animal. She made a terrible mistake, I feel---using the Elmo doll. I believe, that the use of the doll in the attempt to "calm" Travis, was the direct cause of his savage attack upon her.
Now I do not know where the doll came from: if she stopped someware to buy it, or if it belonged to him, and she had taken it from the business where he was also set up to stay;---either way, the horrible mistake of using that doll was the thing that set the already agitated chimp over the edge.
Consider these things:
The animal had the intellectual capacity of a 3 to 4 year child.
He was brought up watching TV as most children are.
What I ask you do most children watch at that age?
Sesame Street of course! So he had indeed seen Elmo before.

Along comes a woman that he did not initially recognize, holding "Elmo"
and most likely squeezing him if it was a doll that made sounds. I have a small version, and when you first squeeze it, it sounds as though he is screaming.
Get the picture. It does not take a great and strenuous working of the mind to realize what really happened.
If by chance the doll was his, well---the answer is obvious. Travis was trying to protect "Elmo".

When he opened the auto door, and sat next to the police officer, he most likely expected to go for a ride, and did not intend to kill the police officer.
The police officer was though, "entirely justified" in shooting Travis to protect himself from harm.

Travis had garnered enough intelligence, to die confused, wondering why he had been hurt for "protecting Elmo".
My condolences to all those who had to experience this horror.
There are many lessons to be learned from this, many lessons indeed.

[Lee]

This is indeed, one of the most tragic stories imaginable.
First for the friend that was called to assist in regaining control over the already agitated animal. She made a terrible mistake, I feel---using the Elmo doll. I believe, that the use of the doll in the attempt to "calm" Travis, was the direct cause of his savage attack upon her.
Now I do not know where the doll came from: if she stopped someware to buy it, or if it belonged to him, and she had taken it from the business where he was also set up to stay;---either way, the horrible mistake of using that doll was the thing that set the already agitated chimp over the edge.
Consider these things:
The animal had the intellectual capacity of a 3 to 4 year child.
He was brought up watching TV as most children are.
What I ask you do most children watch at that age?
Sesame Street of course! So he had indeed seen Elmo before.

Along comes a woman that he did not initially recognize, holding "Elmo"
and most likely squeezing him if it was a doll that made sounds. I have a small version, and when you first squeeze it, it sounds as though he is screaming.
Get the picture. It does not take a great and strenuous working of the mind to realize what really happened.
If by chance the doll was his, well---the answer is obvious. Travis was trying to protect "Elmo".

When he opened the auto door, and sat next to the police officer, he most likely expected to go for a ride, and did not intend to kill the police officer.
The police officer was though, "entirely justified" in shooting Travis to protect himself from harm.

Travis had garnered enough intelligence, to die confused, wondering why he had been hurt for "protecting Elmo".
My condolences to all those who had to experience this horror.
There are many lessons to be learned from this, many lessons indeed.

The most important lesson here is that a chimpanzee is a wild animal, not a
domestic one like a cat or dog, and it should be out in the wild with its own
kind.

[Pus$y Galore]

Last month I saw a fifth estate (http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/) documentary on animal abuse in film titled Cruel Camera (http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/cruelcamera/). In the second half they talked about chimps in Hollywood (http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/cruelcamera/chimps.html).


Sad that this was just aired in November too. When are people going to learn? We've known about this for years and still it goes on.

What kills me are the stupid things PETA has been going after ("seakittens") but I haven't heard a word from them over this chimp thing. Why are they out there doing something about this sort of thing instead of coming up with ridiculous ideas. Maybe then they would actually gain some credibility and have more support.

(I didn't know you could get CBC in the Bay area? cool!)

[Sharop]

And I hope you don't mind my saying this, but it seems as though anytime someone voices an opinion around here that isn't agreeable, some people seem to want to argue about it. It's okay if you have your own opinions, but you don't have to jump all over other people for not having the same opinion. There are alot of people who love animals and who feel very saddened about this story, and someone just wanted to voice their opinion on it. Then you just jumped all over his case for no reason. Voice you opinion, but please don't attack other people.

Waterloo, I agree with your sentiments but I don't see how they apply to this thread. Neither JamesG or Chocoholic, the only two to have replied before your post, attacked brownie87. I'm not sure why you're stating they jumped all over his case? No one has. Maybe you misread their posts? I agree that people shouldn't be jumped over or attacked but it hasn't happened in this thread. I think you may be worrying over nothing. :) I tend to be the same. An eternal worrier, that's me. :)

[OH Nuts!]

The most important lesson here is that a chimpanzee is a wild animal, not a
domestic one like a cat or dog, and it should be out in the wild with its own
kind.

Yup, that sums it up very nicely - thx!

[browneyes106]

This story is horrible but I really feel sorry for the victim because on the Today Show one of her doctors thinks she may have brain damage. I sort of hope her family sues so they can cover her medical expenses.