Comments on: TV star chimp shot dead

By: Candi

Candi — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:01:06 +0000

My husband and I have a saying “that a wild animal is always a wild animal, no matter what” and that refers to the chimps, the big cats, the bears, the elephants and whatever else that humans think that they can “humanize” as a pet or something closer like a “human being” saying that they can reason and think and are so much like us humans in their interactions with each other. NO THEY ARE NOT – they will KILL in the wild to protect their own from a predator or even a mate, if something goes wrong between them – we humans usually do not do that (of course there is the criminal element within our race that has to be addressed,) but for the normal, most part we do not act that way. Once a lion, always a lion – you can not change its color or natural instincts, the same with a chimp, even though they have made far more advances with them as far as communication skills, etc., they are still a chimp, which is a wild animal that has adapted to a human aspect – some form of communication, but that does not change it from being a wild chimp inside. That’s like saying we can all just get a long and the world will be just lovey dovey – well there is evil in the world and we all can’t get along peacefully – there are some people that want to kill other races of people and that is just how it is – no ifs, ands, or buts, that’s the way it is with animals, no ifs, ands, or buts – they are still wild animals. Why don’t people get a clue and let them live the life that wild animals are meant to live and not try to humanize them??? An animal is NOT a human being – people, get a clue!!! Oh sure, I love my pet dogs like the dickens, but I don’t humanize them, they are dogs, they don’t sit on my couch – that is mine. They have to sit and lay on the floor, but I get them nice soft beds to lay on, to show them how much I love them and pet them and play with them, and hug them and feed them the best food possible, etc, etc., but I know they are still dogs! Yes, I cry when I lose one to natural death – it breaks my heart because they love unconditionally and I try to love them back the same way, so human emotions do get in my way, but I still realize that they are an animal, and not try to humanize them…but I would not exchange their true love for anything else in the world. So, love your dog or cat every day and have a great day! Remember, a wild animal is just that – a WILD animal and will always be – no matter what.

By: ginette

ginette — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:54:25 +0000

I totally agree with you Dr. Jones. Wild animals should be left in the wild. That’s where they are meant to be and that is where they are happy. I know most of these animals are cute and fuzzy, but reality is, they don’t belong in a home with us. It’s ok to help them if they’re injured but to keep them as a pet it’s simply not right. I personally think it’s selfish on our part to keep them from the wild. Let’s reverse the roles for a minute. Imagine how it would be if a gorilla for instance, came and grabbed someone and brought them and held ‘em captive in the wild. I’m sure no one would be living happily. Or, imagine having to live with King Kong for the rest of your life! It’s not the first time that we hear of someone getting hurt by a wild pet animal. You’d think people would get it after a while. Oh, well by the way I realy enjoy reading your e-mails. Have a great day!

By: Lisa Grundmann

Lisa Grundmann — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:53:00 +0000

Chimps belong in the wild, not as pets. You can’t domesticate them the way you can a cat & dog. If you are looking after them as a rescue animal in a sanctuary that’s one thing, but to make them a family pet that is wrong. They need to be with their own kind, they need their habitats to be saved. Leave looking after chimps to the experts, like the people at the Jane Goodal institute.

By: Theo

Theo — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:50:01 +0000

I agree with Theresa Kamal. You can take an animal from the wild, but you can never take the wild from the animal! It’s debatable what wild means though… for them and for us!
It’s truly a heartbreaking story. I always get very upset when animals are killed, as it is always and solely our fault. We feed our selfish egoes by keeping animals imprisoned. I feel sorry for the attacked lady. I feel sorry for the owner who had to stab her pet. What a double damage tragedy!
And, poor thing, went back “home” to die! Sad! I doubt the story will have any effect, but I do hope!

By: Astrid

Astrid — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:53:24 +0000

It is never a good idea to keep a wild animal confined for any reason. A lot of us don’t even really understand our dogs which has a close association with humans. Dogs are truly domesticated animals, but it did not hapen over night. It was a process of evolution over a period of ±14 000 years. Breeding a wild animal in captivity or hand rearing one does not make it a domesticated animal. It is still a wild animal and it belongs in nature where it can function and live the way it is suppose to live and fulfill the role that nature intended it to. Humans will never be able to give a wild animal what it needs. Humans who confine a wild animal are just very arrogant in thinking that they can fulfil the necessary emotional and physical needs of this animal. The truth is we can’t and we will never be able to. Let us rather concentrate on understanding the language of the animals that evolved with us, the dog.

By: Ana Maria Sosa

Ana Maria Sosa — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:52:28 +0000

Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con usted Dr. Jones. Animales salvajes no deberian tomarse como mascotas. Para eso tenemos perros, gatos, peces y aves criadas para ese fin.
Felicidades por su sitio Web.
Now I will try it in english:
I agree with your opinion of left the wild into the wild and not try to take them as pets.
Thanks for your web page that is very instructive for a pet ouners and also for me as a veterinarian in Mexico.
Plese send me recomendations of books to lern more about natural medications.

By: theresa kamal rezk

theresa kamal rezk — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:48:35 +0000

speaking about wild….as a previous owner of 44 toy and miniature sized domestic dogs living inside my home(NOT CAGED)and after many years, i came to understand that you CANNOT TAKE THE WILD OUT OF THE ANIMAL. even the dogs had kept their instinct as wolves and i witnessed on so many occaisions their wild instinct enacted upon, towards other animals and towards humans. these were all family pets and i raised them around my own 6 children. i understand the wild in ALL ANIMALS now.

By: joe n.

joe n. — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:30:01 +0000

did anyone ever here the story about the 3 to whatever year trusting family pet snapped attacked someone ,cornered a child ,vicious attack,from our best friend the dog.the dog still has some wild in the animal and I have seen people treat their dogs very well in the house,maybe spoil once or twice?A chimp seems really smart,I would bet medication rumor may have contributed,sometimes things break,like the minds of people,dogs,and family pet chimp who I bet could become part of the family not unlike dogs, which I have one and remind myself he is an animal.Very sad ending ,but I bet he had a decent life,not unlike your pets life.

By: Jamie Parr

Jamie Parr — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:20:58 +0000

It is absolutely fascinating how close these beings are to ourselves. They can be so simular that people forget that they are still wild animals. It is just another reinforcement that it is ALWAYS a bad idea…..no matter how “human-like” they can be. They will always be more dangerous than a human being (without a weapon, of course). It broke my heart that he went to his “room” to die. It gave him a false sense of security……poor thing.

By: Debra Owen

Debra Owen — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:40:33 +0000

I agree about circus animals, some will be abused. As for zoos…most are good facilities – where we – our children can observe and learn about them. The neighbors had complained about Travis being mean before this happened. He was being a monkey. You can’t expect an exotic animal to be ‘human’….if they reached into a car – they were invading his territory. He reacted by biting….that should have been a wake up call for the ‘greedy’ woman. Travis was a celebrity – and did bring home a little ‘bacon’ from time to time. He should have been placed with other monkeys so he could live with his own kind. Maybe she thought she was an adequate substitute….showed the same intellect by her actions.

By: Debra Owen

Debra Owen — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:31:26 +0000

People should not be allowed to own a wild animal as a pet. Private and public zoos have to go through a lengthy process of acquiring all different types of permits – to protect themselves and the animals under their care. This woman may have loved this ape as a pet, but let’s face it….this monkey worked for a living and she made money off of him. Wild animals are unpredictable – they should be left in the wild or in a zoo. I can’t imagine the horror both ladies and the cops must have endured. I can’t imagine what the monkey must have endured either. It is a sad situation – hope the old lady is insured – if he lady survives the attack – she will need a lot of reconstructive surgery..let alone the pain and suffering. The monkey had enough sense to revert to his comfort zone to die. He must have been so confused – poor women and monkey. The cop did the right thing. The lady needs to stop lying – she has changed her story – several times – about the drugs. If the monkey was stressed enough to be taking prescription drugs….he should have been removed from the home/neighborhood a long time ago. He should have never been in the home. Animals will revert to the wild – unexpectedly. Even domesticated animals will act wild at times. Hope people wake up and stop keeping wild animals in their homes ….they belong in the wild.

By: Av

Av — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:46:32 +0000

The sad life of this chimp has finally come to an end. His history was probably one of having his mother killed and then ripped away from her dead body and shipped across the world. Else, he was bred in captivity in unnatural surroundings. He should have spent his life with a family of his own species in the jungle, but instead was forced to do tricks and “perform” for humans entertainment and as a money making commodity for his owner. They are highly intelligent, sensitive creatures and it is time for laws to prohibit the keeping of any and all wild animals. He is better off dead than having to endure such an abnormal life.

By: Christel

Christel — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 08:37:25 +0000

I live in Africa and have a healthy respect for all animals wild or not. THe problem is that people tend to humanise animals and that causes a lot of problems and also tragedies like this.

I do not believe that keeping exotic animals as pets is wise. You can live in the bush all your life and if you do so wisely you will survive if you become foolish you will soon come to harm. It is the same with these animals. They are wild!!!!!

By: Yvette

Yvette — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 05:10:38 +0000

Travis was given Xanax. Many drugs used to calm adults, i.e. phenobarbital, act in complete opposition with children, making them anxious instead. The same may be true when a chimp is given such medication. Having raised him from “childhood” it would have been difficult for her to give him up. He was a friend and companion, yes, but where could she send him. A zoo would have been a terrible place, and he would have never survived the wild. He was used in film and TV, but had no provisions for his life after his owner’s death. Chimps live very long lives and his owner was near the end of hers. Chimps, like young children make lovely companions in their youth but most are sullen and unhappy as they age. Their lives are dull and far removed from their natural needs and their highly functional brains. They live in family groups in nature and Travis, though loved and cared for must have been lonely and bored. Dogs and cats have adapted to domestication over the centuries. They have formed a pact with humans. Not so chimps and tigers and racoons and eagles. They should not be part of a household.

By: Maggi

Maggi — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:19:45 +0000

My heart goes out to all involved including Travis. He was a wild animal that did not get to enjoy life as God intended, wild and free. It was a very tragic ending for all. Why do people seem to think wild animals would make great pets. I understand people that raise wild animals but let them live as wild animals even keeping in touch as some with lions that I have read about but they didn’t confine them.