James Davis said Moe was not a threat to the public and attacked only when provoked. In 2000, after city prosecutors decided to drop charges against the Davises in Moe's 1999 attack, St. 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. A woman whose face and hands were ripped off by her friend’s pet chimpanzee has launched a bid to sue the state of Connecticut for 150 million (90 million) in damages. "This is the only incident in 20 years of operation," the statement said. Charla Nash’s hands, eyelids, nose and lips were ripped off in the frenzied attack, which left her close to death - but she never gave up hope. The sanctuary's owners, Virginia and Ralph Brauer, would not speak to reporters, but a family friend provided a statement that read, "All of us here at Animal Haven Ranch are praying for the recovery of St. Travis the chimpanzee was adored and treated like a son by his owner, until one horrific afternoon when he snapped and turned on her best friend. "When you maintain large, strong animals in captivity, you think you know what they're going to do, but in the end they're unpredictable."Īnimal Haven Ranch has held state permits to shelter animals since 1985 and serves as a sanctuary for animals that have been confiscated or lost, Martarano said. "This episode highlights some of the dangers of privately owning primates," said Steve Schapiro, who studies chimpanzee behavior at the University of Texas. “My thoughts were always ‘How is she allowed this animal in her house? What if he gets loose someday and somebody gets hurt?’ “I know the animals are cute - but they're just not pets.”Īfter the attack, her family sought permission to sue Connecticut for £100 million for failing to seize the animal before the attack.īut her action was denied after authorities said state law did not prohibit the private ownership of chimpanzees at the time of the attack.Primate experts said that chimpanzees, which typically weigh between 120 and 150 pounds and are much stronger than humans, are known to kill chimps from neighboring groups, hunt other primates and even attack humans in the wild. “I remember looking at him in his cage and feeling sorry for him,” added Charla. Sandra died of an aneurysm four years ago. Talking about Travis the chimp, who was shot dead by police, she said she never felt at ease around the monkey after it was locked up in Sandra Herold’s Connecticut home. That was my favourite, salads.”Ĭharla said she hoped one day she will be able to move back home after finding staff and residents now keep their distance out of fear. I'm starting to get back into eating salads again. I can chew chicken, it's a little softer. Travis had ripped off her hands, nose, lips, torn out her eyes and completely smashed the bones in the. “They just made some bottom teeth for me recently,” she said. Charla had her face and hands ripped off by Travis the chimp in a terrifying attack. She puts herself through gruelling physical therapy on her face as she works to strengthen her jaw. She explained how she now spends her days listening to audio books alone and going for walks in the grounds of her nursing home in Massachusetts. I don't know what my future is, that's the scary part.” “Sometimes you want to cry, you want out, you want some kind of home. Not even live - half-live,” Charla added. Recently she was fitted with teeth that allow her to chew tougher foods, such as chicken. Two years after the assault Charla underwent reconstructive surgery and was given a new face.ĭoctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston also fitted the single mum with a glass eye but were unsuccessful in attempts to transplant a hand. The monkey called, Travis, seriously disfigured her and she sustained extensive damage to her eyes, nose, lips and hands. The 60-year-old was left fighting for her life in February 2009 after a friend’s pet chimp launched a brutal attack on her. I could change my own truck tyre, and now I can’t even feed myself.” “Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot I can do,” she said. A woman who had her face and hands ripped off by a chimpanzee, has told of her battle to cope five years on.Ĭharla Nash spoke about the isolation she feels but added she was determined to get better regardless.Īnd now, three years after her face transplant, Charla is even practising expressions so she can learn to smile again.īut she revealed that other residents at the American care home where she lives no longer go near her because of her appalling injuries.
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