Posted on 03/04/2005 12:06:53 PM PST by ambrose
Chimps tear off man's face
From correspondents in Los Angeles
March 5, 2005
A CALIFORNIA man's face was torn off in a savage attack by two huge chimpanzees while he was delivering a birthday cake to his former chimp pet of 30 years.
The victim, St James Davis, 62, was in critical condition after suffering severe facial and bodily injuries, officials said today.
He and his wife had been paying a visit to their old simian pal, Moe, when the attack happened.
Mr Davis was attacked by two male chimpanzees who had escaped from a cage adjoining Moe's at the Animal Haven Ranch, near the town of Bakersfield, north of Los Angeles, the California Department of Fish and Game said.
"The two male chimpanzees attacked Mr Davis, who received substantial injuries to his face, abdomen and upper body," said department spokesman Steve Martarano.
"It was a very bloody attack, indeed."
Mr Davis was rushed to hospital, where he underwent extensive operations, including reconstructive surgery to reattach parts of his face torn off in the attack.
His foot and testicles were also mauled.
The victim's wife, La Donna Davis, 64, sustained serious hand injuries during the attack, which ended when the two chimps were shot dead, Mr Martarano said.
"The Davises were visiting Moe to give him a birthday cake, and somehow the two males escaped from the cage next to Moe's that housed a total of four chimpanzees," Mr Martarano said.
"Moe was not involved in the attack."
The two assailants - 16-year-old Buddy and 13-year-old Ollie - were shot and killed by a relative of the sanctuary's owner.
The two female chimps that had been in the cage escaped the sanctuary during the attack and were tracked down, tranquilised and returned safely to their cage after a four-hour hunt, Mr Martarano said.
"We are still investigating, along with the sheriff's department, how the four chimps got out of the cage," he said.
It was unclear what had sparked the assault on Mr Davis, who had kept Moe for 30 years.
He was forced to give him up five years ago, after the chimp injured a police officer and bit a woman's finger.
AFP
I can't get that Niel Young song out of my mind that " da da da da da My Simeon girl."
Seriously, I'm surprised he survived the attack. The pain alone could have killed him.
I wonder what Moe must have been thinking during all of this.
There's just something about turning 30...
Wow.... Very bizarre.
same here. Really, you have to feel for the guy. He probably thought he knew all there was to know about chimps.
He's thinking "whoa, and it's not even my birthday."
And he thought Moe was out of control when he gave him up to the sanctuary.
JUST
DAMN!
oops, sorry... musta missed your JD ping in the mass of SCOTUS arguments... sorry.
Hummmm I can't say why this happened, I just know it isn't going to happen to me.
How bout a chimp named Lorena Bobbit?
NOTE TO SELF: Self...chimpanzees are wild animals. Eating cake is not natural to them. Chimpanzees do not like being kept in cages. Do not attempt to deliver a cake to a chimpanzee, especially when other chimpanzees are nearby because they may escape and rip off your face, foot, and nuts.
I hope that does it.
I'm pinging you to this because it's Friday. No other reason, really.
}:-)4
Two out of three chimps prefer coconuts to bananas.
Nor more so than it is for people. Chimps eat fruit, just like humans. Cake just appeals to their, and our, sweet tooths.
Now we know what Bubbles will do do Michael Jackson in a few short years...
"I hate every ape I see...from chimpan A to chimpan Z."
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