Travis the Chimpanzee

By Rachel Rigsby, February 20, 2009

On behalf of REXANO and all fellow exotic animal owners, I would like to offer our deepest sympathy in the tragic event involving Travis the chimpanzee. My prayers will remain with Ms. Nash throughout these difficult times.
I also express my sorrow for Ms. Herold, having lost her beloved companion. And for dear Travis, who was nothing more than an innocent animal.
I will stand resolute on my opinion that I do not believe the attack to be unprovoked. To

 everyone who has known or encountered Travis preceding this incident, he was portrayed as a very friendly, playful, and happy animal. I am certain that prior to the attack there was something that triggered his behavior. There have already been many obvious explanations mentioned. And the story continues to unfold.

After some extensive investigating I have uncovered the recorded chimpanzee attacks in the United States. I went through records as far back as 1974, 35 years worth of records! It seems that many people are under the impression chimpanzee attacks are quite common, but in fact there is only a tiny morsel of attacks documented.

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  February 16, 2009 Travis the chimpanzee attacked a woman, Charla Nash. Ms. Nash has underwent over seven hours of surgery with four teams of surgeons.

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  March 2005, St. James Davis obtained serious injuries to his face, body, and limbs. His wife, LaDonna Davis acquired a bite to her hand. The couple was visiting their relinquished pet chimpanzee, Moe, when two other chimpanzees attacked. Their confiscated pet chimpanzee Moe, was not involved with this case. However, the reason for his being in the sanctuary was due to an attack in August of 1998 when he bit two police officers, an animal control officer, and one other individual. One officer had to undergo a surgery after an infection took place in his wound. The bite to the other police officer did not break the skin.

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  April 9, 2000, a nine year old girl was bitten in the hand by a chimpanzee after posing in a picture with the chimp. Stitches were required in here hand, but no reconstructive surgery was needed.

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  August 2000, a pet chimp named Herbie escaped after his sitter accidentally opened the wrong door to his cage. While free, Herbie bit one person in the palm of their hand and another person on their finger. This was not Herbie’s first escapade! In July of 1998 he also ventured out, trying to take the driver’s seat from a mailman. It was only some good-humored fun and no injuries were reported.

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  In January of 1994 a female chimpanzee name Sueko bit a seven year old girl. Shortly thereafter in February, Sueko jumped on top of a man and bit him. Medical treatment was required, though I do not know to what extent.

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  In 1993 there was an incident where a chimpanzee bit a three month old boy on the nose, mouth, and head. The young baby was posing for a photo with the chimp when the chimp’s handler smacked the animal’s arm, causing it to become upset. Soon after, in August 1993, another bite to a three year old child was allegedly reported involving the same chimpanzee.

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  October 1992, a pet chimpanzee name Sydney prowled on the streets. He bit a 15 year old boy and was said to have thrown his grandmother. The two were treated at an emergency clinic and were stated to have only had minor injuries.

There are eight cases of chimpanzee attacks, some trivial some severe, in the past 35 years. There were nine chimpanzees involved in these cases, two of them belonging to the St. James Davis incident. It’s estimated there are as many as 400 privately owned chimpanzees in the United States. Nine chimpanzees out of 400 is only 2.3%. Around 97.7% of privately owned chimpanzees have never been engaged in human related injuries.

It is my personal belief that individuals should be entitled the right to have what pets they want, given that they are capable of properly caring for them. It would indeed take a highly qualified person to appropriately care for a chimpanzee. As we know, chimpanzees are very complex animals, emotionally and mentally. Physically, they are extraordinarily powerful. The dedication, time, work, and education put into the endeavor of owning one would be very challenging. There should be spacious enclosures, routine enrichment, appropriate diets, same species companionship, and veterinary care when required. Owning a chimpanzee is not for everyone, but only for the rare, but brilliant, people who are qualified with both experience and research.

In forever memory of Travis the chimpanzee


Rachel Rigsby lives in Virginia with her two Capuchin monkeys and a private menagerie of other animals.

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