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Chimp Attack: Pet Primate Steals Keys, Escapes Home, Mauls Visitor

That's cruel… I understand the chimp was attacking and people feared for their lives… but the cops couldn't use a stun gun? Then again, it prolly would've died from the stabbing that it's owner gave it.

I dont know what to say, i feel so bad.

I disagree Shane. I think it's okay for the right people with the right education and degrees to prove it to own a chimp as a pet. Travis obviously lived a long, healthy, and for the most part happy life.

What makes this case so tragic is the unexpected reaction the chimp had to xanax. Fifteen years of an amazing life all gone in a moment. Perhaps not even really in the chimp's control… It's been reported that some people have violent behavioral reactions to the drug. The owner of the chimp overestimated, or perhaps underestimated the complexity of her pet's mind.

In the end, there is a missing link… and because these creatures can't tell us exactly how they feel, they're very little more predictable than the common house pet. And for so many reasons, so much less predictable.

It's cruel? Why? They killed an animal because it was going to kill a human being?

That ape could do just as much damage as a human being, if not more, and these poor people, one of which is fighting for her life, are getting ridiculed for killing it.

Had this been a dog, or a bear, it wouldn't be in the news. No one would even care.

But no. It's a poor defenseless chimp. A poor chimp, who might I remind you chewed a womans face off, and then went to kill the cop.

These people are the victims, not the ape.

And what's sad is that people like you are calling these people cruel, for saving another humans life. Or for defending their own lives. They weren't just fearing for their lives, their lives were in DANGER.

I am a huge animal lover, but I am also realistic. Had it been me in that situation, I would have done the same thing.

And, you gotta face the facts folks, they would have put that ape down had it lived through the stabbing or the shooting. It severely injured a woman, and was going to attack another human.

Instead of getting praise for saving a humans life, they are getting blamed for the death of an ape.

America, you need to get your priorities straight.

I would save a humans life over a apes life ANY day.

We should not make broad generalizations over this incredibly tragic situation. The constant reference to Travis (and other animals, even dogs!) as being “wild animals” applies to human beings as well. This event is sensational, because it rarely happened before. What is more typical, and thus sady acceptable, is that over 20,000 humans are visciously murdered (in the U.S. alone) by other humans (every year). Suddenly, we have a sensational report of one chimp attack and the whole species is maligned, which is grossly unfair; the whole event must be taken into logical context. That being said, I feel the owner was correct in what she did. The whole event is tragic – for the chimp, for the owner, and – most of all – for the woman currently struggling for her life. But, please, let us not cast the first stone against an animal, when our crime rate proves we are animals ourselves.

Yes, humans can be “wild animals” and beasts. We do commit heinous and horrific crimes every year. But there is something so horrific as to get one's face chewed off and what this poor woman went through, that one couldn't really imagine such a vicious act. The chimp all his life was treated like a human,, but he truly showed his animal nature that afternoon. Why didn't he stop when “mom” stabbed him and banged him with a shovel?The 911 call is chilling and I'm sorry I listened to it, it was so upsetting. It seems to me the lines were being blurred between humans and the animal world. This happens far too frequently but Travis's owner considered him her son, but she clearly did not chose to do any research into how, if possible to deal with a possessive “alpha” male adolescent ape. She certainly spoiled him rotten and I'm sure this did not help matters as he became an adolescent. She, in fact appeared to enjoy this dysfunctional relationship that was clearly getting out of hand. However, she is a sad victim of this also, as her “child” was murdered.
I think the owner should have had a Plan A, B and C with dealing with Travis, as every “mom” should. The vets and docs that saw Travis also should have been involved considering his huge stature and weight(200lbs. is considered obese…well, he did eat ice cream and lobster!) They and the owner had to know the risks as Travis got older.
The fact the owner couldn't handle Travis that day, possibly gave him Xanax and then called her friend for help was beyond negligent. Why not call the police? The animal control people? If she couldn't handle him, how could she expect another woman of her stature to do any better? It would have been better to call 911 immediately. She put everyone's life at risk and she was the only survivor. Not that it makes it any easier for this woman. My heart goes out to her. But it was rather cavalier and lackadaisical on her part to call a friend and that's it! Even if she had some type of stun gun or something to give Travis from the vets to knock him out could have helped. She needed a serious backup plan years ago…like putting him in an animal sanctuary.
Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and everyone is a victim here. The worst case scenerio happened and it truly is a “cautionary tale” of what happens when boundaries are blurred between humans and large animals. Yes, let's face it…owners of cats and dogs do it all the time. We project our love and our emotional vaccums on our pets. However, we have a responsibility to attend to our pets and if we are found negligent regarding them, we have to pay.
Everyone pays here…when will we ever learn? We are related to the apes, but I haven't heard of many people choosing to live in the jungle amongst them. Unless of course, you are Tarzan or Jane Goodall!

Chimps are one of the most ferocious animals there is, if they want to. They are WAY stronger than men, and they generally imobilize their victim's hands with their hands, and then bites, and use their feet (that are pretty much like hands) to destroy whatever they touch. In Discovery Channel, specialists said that they go after the hands, the face and the testicles. They can also rip off the skin with their sharp nails.

To own a chimp is like owning a tiger. But the Chimp is smarter.

Well the problem is that this wasn't the first time that the chimp scaped and caused damages. In 2003 the same chimp went out and started “wreaking havoc”, as said in this very article!