Posted on 03/04/2005 5:58:32 AM PST by KidGlock
Chimps Shot Dead After Attacking Visitors At California Sanctuary
POSTED: 8:08 am EST March 4, 2005
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A couple's plans for a birthday party for their former pet chimpanzee turned tragic when two other chimps at an animal sanctuary escaped from their cage and attacked. The man was critically injured with massive wounds to his face, body and limbs, and the attacking animals were shot dead.
St. James and LaDonna Davis were at the Animal Haven Ranch in Caliente to celebrate the birthday of Moe, a 39-year-old chimpanzee who was taken from their suburban Los Angeles home in 1999 after biting off part of a woman's finger.
Moe was not involved in Thursday's attack, said Steve Martarano, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game.
The couple had brought Moe a cake and were standing outside his cage when Buddy and Ollie, two of four chimpanzees in the adjoining cage, attacked St. James Davis, Martarano said. Officials have not determined how the chimps got out of their enclosure, he said.
LaDonna Davis, 64, suffered a bite wound to the hand while trying to help her 62-year-old husband, Martarano said.
The son-in-law of the sanctuary's owner killed the attacking animals, Martarano said.
"He saw what was happening and had one kind of weapon with him and then got another he felt would be more substantial and shot them," Martarano said. "He pretty much saved a life."
St. James Davis had severe facial injuries and would require extensive surgery in an attempt to reattach his nose, Dr. Maureen Martin of Kern Medical Center told KGET-TV of Bakersfield. His testicles and a foot also were severed, Kern County Sheriff's Cmdr. Hal Chealander told The Bakersfield Californian.
Davis was transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was undergoing surgery late Thursday, Martarano said.
Buddy, a 16-year-old male chimp, initiated the attack and after he was shot, Ollie, a 13-year-old male, grabbed the gravely injured man and dragged him down the road, authorities said.
"Everybody was trying to get the chimp off," Chealander said.
Two other chimps, females named Susie and Bones, also escaped from the cage they shared with Ollie and Buddy, prompting sheriff's deputies, animal control workers, and Fish and Game officials to launch a search.
The wayward pair were recovered by Animal Haven owner Virginia Brauer after five hours. Martarano said one chimp was two miles from the sanctuary, located 25 miles southeast of Bakersfield.
The Davises had waged an unsuccessful legal fight to bring Moe back to their West Covina home and visited him regularly at the sanctuary where he had been living since October. They brought the chimp from Africa decades ago after a poacher killed his mother.
Animal Haven Ranch has held state permits to shelter animals since 1985 and serves as a sanctuary for animals that have been confiscated or discovered lost, Martarano said.
It is allowed to house up to nine primates at one time and is home to one spider monkey and six chimpanzees, he said. The permits are held by Virginia and Ralph Brauer, whom neighbors described as responsible animal lovers.
"She's devoted her whole life to taking care of these chimpanzees," said Jeanne Miller, a family friend.
Pray for his recovery and mourn the fact that there are so few nonthreatening eccentric people in our midst that we must be satisfied with the bizarros who find their way into education, politics, and media.
That's right. Dogs are dogs and chimps are chimps. But kitties are people!
Hear. Hear.
Americans cannot do 'eccentric' as well as the Brits. It is an art, apparently. Somethings, we simply do not do as well.
I read a book many years ago about the US at war with the Chinese where the CIA taught a band of chimps to hate the Chinese by having Chinese POW's mistreat the chimps. The chimps were released behind enemylines and since the Chinese had a distinct B.O., the chimps would hunt down and brutally kill any Chinese they came across.
It could work for Middle Eastern terrorists, too.
I know, I know, but somebody was gonna say it...
A chewed off face and missing testicles because of associating with chimps --- you are right. This does sound a lot like Michael Jackson.
Kitty cat ping...
I've seen people with chimps in cages in their backyard. In cages. Didn't seem right even at the time. But I was a kid, and said nothing (and got ripped off on the Nova I bought from the guy, as well).
These chimps were supposed to be returning to something of a feral condition, by design, as I understand it. These people may have been 'sponsors'. I don't know. But just because you have the big government severage bucks doesn't mean that all should be open to you. He who pays calls the tune? No . . I don't think so. There's a reason a whole assortment of critters are not allowed as pets - tigers, lions, you know? even though people do.
I've grown up with cats, had a bobcat domestic crossbreed for awhile.
One thing to learn is that cats take a stare as a threat.
Another thing to keep in mind: when you trip and fall over, the cat isn't running up to see if you're okay.
The cat is checking to see if you're too hurt to feed it. And if you are too hurt to feed it, the cat is checking to see if you're hurt enough for it to take down.
However, some cats get too used to human conveniences like electricity, heat, and running water.
By any chance was there a clown at this birthday party? Cherchez le clown, I say.
Never liked 'em, never trusted 'em, never thought it was funny when folks dressed them up to look like people. They are reasonably intelligent, far stronger than people because of the deep muscle insertion on their frame, and they sling poo. Trusting your well being to the whim of a wild animal is poor judgement in my book. "They're cute" is an idiotic excuse.
Perhaps, but maybe he told the others about these strange aliens that take you away from your home. Or maybe what Jacko did to a relative of his.
We went through a drive-through safari once. We were warned not to go through the chimp section because we had a nice vinyl top on our car (this was the late 70s). We heeded the warning. When we got out of the safari, we saw another car with the vinyl top ripped to shreds.
Powerful beasties.
Impressive cat.
He looks stocky and doesn't seem to appreciate the camera in his face though.
*chuckle*
How does he do with being fussed over?
My prevous cat, the domestic bobcat mix, loved being fussed over as if she deserved to be worshipped.
*chuckle*
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