[cyncooper]

I can feel horrified and sorry for this misguided couple and at the same time not deliberatly ignore facts.

The animal they were visiting had in fact been involved in harming a human before. They were not ignorant of the nature of chimpanzees but chose to ignore it. They had wanted to bring back to their home the pet they had been forced to give up. If they had somehow had this animal in their home it could have escaped and harmed or killed other people.

I feel badly for them, but I think they were more than very foolish and evidently had little regard for the welfare of people over animals.

[norton]

not ignoring facts, I've seen people 'free' a domesticated fox thinking it was the right thing to do and I'm terrified of my neighbor's dog (that grovels to the neighbor and no one else). I absolutely think it is foolish to keep a chimp at home but I can also understand checking in on him after relocating him (I still check up on dogs & cats I've rescued regardless of their breed).

I'm only stating that the guy deserves a bit more empathy because he's seriously hurt and because regardless of his prior actions (keeping a chimp) he was harmed by totally different animals with which he had no involvement.
Note that I did NOT say 'his intentions were good' although I'm sure they were - that's not a defense.

THAT said, I'd be pretty upset if someone tried to shut down the refuge because of this. Stuff happens when you mix people and animals and, other than simply offing every ugly or hungry critter we see, someone has to take care of the furry jetsam the rest of us create.

[Fish Hunter]

I feel badly for them, but I think they were more than very foolish and evidently had little regard for the welfare of people over animals.

The same goes for some dog owners and parents !!

LOL,

F H