Chimps Bite — Who Knew?

This just in, America. There is even more evidence in the news today about the danger of owning wild animals.  A woman in Connecticut has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after being attacked by her friend’s pet chimpanzee.

Sigh. Here’s the thing. Not only did 14-year-old Travis the chimpanzee escape, he used a key. That’s right. He didn’t chew through the cage or slip through the bars; he picked up a key, unlocked the door and walked out. The moral of the story? People should not own wild animals, but they definitely shouldn’t own smart and wild animals. At least a tiger can’t unlock a cage door.

Furthermore, this was not the first time Travis attempted his great escape. According to CNN.com, in 2003, the 200 lb. animal terrorized the Stamford, Connecticut community before being caught. All evidence points to the conclusion that she should have gotten rid of him then, but common sense just isn’t as common as we all thought.

The bottom line is wild animals are not akin to the cute, cuddly creatures we see in cartoons on the Disney Channel. Think about that the next time you (or your friend) think it would be a cool idea to own a boa constrictor or a something equally dangerous. This is not the Jungle Book. One day, you’ll find yourself on the evening news wondering why.

That is all.

~ by micheledb on February 17, 2009.