# Genius chimp shot by police **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 17, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223 "2009-02-17T03:20:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/61 "2009-02-18T18:57:00Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Did anyone else notice in the news stories that the lady owning the chimp was _70?_ > > She was probably very lucky that it didn’t go after her. And lucky she gets to check off “knife fight with a monkey” from her bucket list. I shudder to think of the horror if Mr Bananas actually was able to get to a car and drive it away. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/62 "2009-02-18T19:24:03Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > You can listen to the 911 call [here](http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/connecticut/090217_Chimp_Attack_911_Call_Released). I link to this because it’s a really shocking call. I really really really really wish I had not clicked on that link. That was horrifying to hear. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/63 "2009-02-18T19:26:46Z")
> [@Daithi\_Lacha](#): > > My God, you’re right! I never even thought about that! > > BONUS FILLER: > I hate every ape I see > From chimpan-A to chimpan-z … Travis finally made a monkey out of MEEEEEEEE! ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/64 "2009-02-18T19:27:01Z")
[More research must be done.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM1-fl_Nu3o) ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/65 "2009-02-18T20:17:57Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Unfortunately the NY Post website doesn’t have the same “Furious George” headline that they put in the printed version.☹ You can see the headline here: [link](http://www.nypost.com/seven/02172009/frontback.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/66 "2009-02-18T20:57:50Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Can zoo chimps be said to have the same upbringing as one that has been raised as a pet though? Shouldn’t there be numerous reports of chimps going ape on their owners or their family and friends? There are not “numerous reports” because as discussed above, a) its quite illegal to keep a chimpanzee in your home in a fair number of states, and b) not that many people are stupid enough to keep a chimp over the age of 6 in their home. Chimps used in movies, etc, are never older than 8. At that point, if they’re lucky, they retire to an animal sanctuary. If they’re not so lucky, they are used for medical research. Nim Chimpsky himself went to a research lab as a test subject for vaccines, until public donations came in to retire him to a sanctuary, where he died at 26. Most handlers recognize when the animal has grown too strong and unpredictable for them (an adult chimp is 3 times as strong as a man). Only the truly delusional find themselves in this situation. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/67 "2009-02-18T21:00:26Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > At that point, if they’re lucky, they retire to an animal sanctuary. Some find [gainful employment.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8avOiTUcD4Y) ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/68 "2009-02-18T21:09:55Z")
Is it just me, or do 911 operators often come across as dense when tapes are released to the press? They seem to be constantly asking people to repeat themselves. “He ripped her face off!” “What did he rip off?” “The chimp killed my friend!” “What’s wrong with your friend?”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/69 "2009-02-18T21:21:39Z")
> [@riker1384](#): > > Is it just me, or do 911 operators often come across as dense when tapes are released to the press? Yep, they do. Ever listened to (9-11 flight attendant) [Betty Ong’s call](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Ong)? It’s been a while since I’ve listened to it, but as I recall she keeps telling the 911 dispatcher (who, after the fact, and knowing what we know now, seems immensely dense) what’s happening, and finally she says “OK, let me check with American Airlines.” I get the idea in these really horrific calls, which are typically the only ones the public gets to hear, there’s a certain amount of incredulity/skepticism about whether the caller is on the up and up. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/70 "2009-02-18T21:44:17Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > And lucky she gets to check off “knife fight with a monkey” from her bucket list… And “see someone’s face ripped off”. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/71 "2009-02-18T21:57:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > And “see someone’s face ripped off”. Anyone else reminded of _Silence of the Lambs_? “The monkey broke her jaw to get at her tongue. His pulse never went over 85. Even when he swallowed it…” Hannibal Lemur, maybe? Yeah, I got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/72 "2009-02-18T21:59:56Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Yup. Just ask one [Mr. St. James Davis](http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1044680). Mr. St. James Davis and his wife were on the Today show this morning. Dude is seriously fucked up. His face looked like a catcher’s mitt with a mouth in the middle. Today also had a long interview with Travis the Chimp’s owner, who, when asked if she would do anything differently, said, “No, I’ll always love him.” Umm, what about your friend who might die? You don’t want to do anything differently for her sake? What a selfish, stupid old lady. Edited to add: The Today Show decorously failed to mention Mr. Davis’s missing testicle when they did the intro. Personally, I think the people need to know! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/73 "2009-02-18T23:01:52Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Did anyone else notice in the news stories that the lady owning the chimp was _70?_ > > She was probably very lucky that it didn’t go after her. Chimps, like every other animal, have genetic predisposition to certain behaviors. Dogs are pack animals. Even when not raised around other dogs, they will exhibit pack behavior and need to know who the alpha animal is. Chimps are very territorial and have a strict hierarchy in the tribe. When a dominant chimp is challenged, it reacts by attacking the challenger. When outsiders come into the pack’s territory, they are attacked in force. This chimp had no reason to attack its owner. The owner provided food, grooming and a place to nest, therefore acknowledging that the chimp was the alpha animal in the house. When this other unfortunate person walked in the door, it may have triggered the chimp’s territorial imperative or threatened its dominance. It reacted in accordance with it’s genetic heritage: disable the intruder and possibly kill it. This is the real danger of owning an animal that is normally found in the wild, regardless of when it’s acquired. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/74 "2009-02-18T23:29:54Z")
Gah! Not only did the poor helpful friend get his face ripped off, he had both his hands gnawed off too! Urk! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/75 "2009-02-19T00:37:09Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > Mr. St. James Davis and his wife were on the Today show this morning. Dude is seriously fucked up. His face looked like a catcher’s mitt with a mouth in the middle. Today also had a long interview with Travis the Chimp’s owner, who, when asked if she would do anything differently, said, “No, I’ll always love him.” Umm, what about your friend who might die? You don’t want to do anything differently for her sake? What a selfish, stupid old lady. > > Edited to add: The Today Show decorously failed to mention Mr. Davis’s missing testicle when they did the intro. Personally, I think the people need to know! Coincidentally, Esquire is preparing to run a long [article](http://www.esquire.com/features/chimpanzee-attack-0409) on the mauling of St. James Davis. **WARNING** : The picture of Mr. Davis’s ruined face on p.3 of that article is truly disturbing. The faint of heart may not want to click past p.2. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/76 "2009-02-19T01:22:34Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And we share, what, some 90% of our genes with them. I think it’s something more than that–94-97%. No cite, I’m going off memory. Unfortunately, though humans and chimps both have the violent, territorial, asshole gene, we don’t share the SUPER-STRENGTH gene, which are the ones relevant here. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/77 "2009-02-19T01:36:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > And “see someone’s face ripped off”. I’m surprised it was Hartford. I thought it was Westport where nothing can go wrong. …can go wrong. …can go wrong. Seriously, about the only thing more wrong than seeing a face ripped off is throwing some hydrogen peroxide on it afterwrds “to prevent infection” and watching her face bubble like the end of an old Christpher Lee horror movie… ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/78 "2009-02-19T01:45:19Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > I’m surprised it was Hartford. I thought it was Westport where nothing can go wrong. Do you mean Stamford? I’m still pretty sure nothing can go wrong in Westport. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/79 "2009-02-19T03:04:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I think it’s something more than that–94-97%. No cite, I’m going off memory. Unfortunately, though humans and chimps both have the violent, territorial, asshole gene, we don’t share the SUPER-STRENGTH gene, which are the ones relevant here. 98% I thought, but I was too lazy to look it up and didn’t want to be asked to cite it. They bite the face and genitals and leave lunch hanging in a tree alive but unable to move. This attack indicates that it is instinctive rather than some learned behavior about how to save lunch for later. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223/80 "2009-02-19T03:32:04Z")
^ it’s 98%. This is so sad and horrible. That poor animal. The poor friend… that woman should be arrested. It’s beyond idiotic to keep a chimp as a pet, period. More than that, it’s cruel. Those stupid, cruel people. This whole story makes me so mad… including the “CRAZED CHIMP” headlines. He was doing what he was naturally programmed to do. It’s not his fault… it’s the fault of the people who kept him, gave him all kinds of drugs, and treated him like he was something he was not without, apparently, understanding what he was. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genius-chimp-shot-by-police/486223.md?page=5)