Years ago, a friend of mine — hey, John! — told me about a documentary he’d caught on chimpanzees and just how violent they could be. The salient example: in a war between chimp tribes, one chimp pulled an enemy chimp’s intestines out — through the…back door.
Thus, I’m not too terribly surprised to read a headline like Chimps critically injure sanctuary visitor. The opening to the article is still a bit shocking though:
St. James and LaDonna Davis were at the Animal Haven Ranch in Caliente to celebrate the birthday of Moe, a 39-year-old chimpanzee who was taken from their suburban Los Angeles home in 1999 after biting off part of a woman’s finger.
(Their first names are St. James and LaDonna? Anyway…) Who visits a 39-year-old chimp that previously bit off part of a woman’s finger? Interestingly, Moe wasn’t involved in this attack; two other chimps, Buddy and Ollie, were:
St. James Davis had severe facial injuries and would require extensive surgery in an attempt to reattach his nose, Dr. Maureen Martin of Kern Medical Center told KGET-TV of Bakersfield. His testicles and a foot also were severed, Kern County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Hal Chealander told The Bakersfield Californian.
His testicles and a foot also were severed. (Hat tip to BoingBoing.)