The woman who stuck her fingers in the cage should be ashamed of herself. [10] Sandra and Jerome Herold purchased Travis for $50,000 from a breeder after he was taken from his mother when he was three days old. Toxicology tests showed that Travis had the drug in his blood. Behind Nika Mhl's surprise call from UConn great Sue Bird, Cannabis advocates protest CT's recreational-use rollout, CT SPCA volunteers 'humbled' as hundreds file to adopt pets, Warrant: Ex-CT 'lunch lady' sent nude pics to student for months. She was tough on the outside, but on the inside, she was just like anyone else," Tassiello said. Charla Nash in 2008, just before the gruesome attack Credit: AP:Associated Press February 16, 2009. Travis had known Charla - who was 55 at the time - for several years but she had recently changed her hair around the time of the attack and there are claims he had become startled by this and lashed out. The chimp ambushed . After getting his degree, he began writing for the Marin Independent Journal before moving back to Connecticut in 2001 and finding a reporting job with The Advocate. On December 26, 1985, primatologist and conservationist Dr. Dian Fossey is found murdered in her cabin at Karisoke, a research site in the mountains of Rwanda. Nashs odyssey started back in 2009 when her face was mangled during a vicious attack by a friends pet chimpanzee, which left her without a nose, eyes or lips. Travis used his huge primate teeth to tear off Charlas hands - before attacking her lips, eyelids, eyes, and nose. Though the experiment didnt work in her case, Nash doesnt regret taking part in it. It was traumatic because after the loss of her daughter and Jerry, her husband, and Travis was all she had left. May 25, 2010, 11:52 AM May 25, 2010 -- Sandra Herold, the Connecticut woman whose chimp named Travis went on a violent rampage and ripped off the face of Charla Nash, has died. The neighbor added that the animal always knew when to stop and paid close attention to his owner. Travis the 10 year old chimpanzee picture with his owner Sandra Herold, photo taken in 2002. He ran back into the house and collapsed dead on his bed. May 25, 2010 Sandra Herold, the Connecticut woman whose chimp named Travis went on a violent rampage and ripped off the face of Charla Nash, has died. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Charla Nash was attacked by her friends pet chimp Travis in 2009, Charla Nash suffered horrific, life changing injuries from the attack, 14-year-old chimpanzee Travis weighed over 200 pounds, A photo of Charla Nash taken before the haunting 2009 attack, Travis was raised by his owners to eat, drink and even dress as a human, Sandra Herold had raised her pet chimpanzee Travis for most of his life, A photo showing Charla Nash before the chimp attack, Charla was forced to undergo multiple surgeries, including a face and hand transplant, Surgeons worked for hours working to replace the soft facial tissues of chimpanzee attack victim Charla Nash, Charla Nash first spoke about the attack with TV host Oprah, just months after it took place, Charla Nash Nash is still working to rebuild her life after the attack, Horror injuries of woman whose face and hands were ripped off by pet chimp and survived, Headteacher sacked 'after sending parents a list of striking teachers' as school launches probe, Isle of Innisfree ferry: Blaze breaks out on boat carrying 183 people in English Channel as lifeboats scramble to scene. Meredith Vieira catches up with Charla Nash seven years after the face transplant that helped repair the damage from a brutal chimp attack. It was a freak thing.. Travis ran away and started roaming on Herold's property as police arrived. A horrified Sandra desperately tried to stop the attack, hitting him with a shovel and stabbing him with a butcher's knife. '"[11] The animal grew angrier. A deputy shot and killed an adult pet chimpanzee named Buck after it attacked a woman in Eastern Oregon, sheriff's officials said. She added: 'He was too strong. He ripped off her eyelids, tore off her nose, gouged out and ate her eyes and almost tore one of her arms off. Charla in July 2015 holding a picture of herself before the the 2009 chimp attack. Charla Nash's brother Michael did not return a call for comment. When help finally arrived, Travis approached the police car, attempted to open the door, and bared his mouthful of bloody fangs before officers shot him dead. [9], Travis was born to Suzy and Coco, who were imported from Africa to the U.S. sometime in the 1970s. Times Staff Writer. I had no idea what was going on, Nash told Vieira. We pay for your stories! An operator is heard asking: I need you to calm down. Hurry up! He also suffered a collapsed lungs, with chunks ripped out his wrists, back and legs - and he instantly underwent six hours of surgery. I wish I had more gas and more showers, more care, she said. EXCLUSIVE: Head teacher of leading grammar school is sacked for sending parents a list of striking teachers. "[17][18], In October 2003, Travis escaped from the Herolds' car and held up traffic at a busy intersection; he was on the loose for several hours. The explosion of Netflixs Tiger King has brought to light the global issue of wild animals being raised as a domestic pet. Herold, who is being sued for $50 million by Nash's estate, owned Travis for 14 years. But attacks on humans have long hit headlines, leaving victims with lifelong - and life-changing - injuries, with these being some of the most shocking acts of chimp violence. [11][13] Sandra slept and bathed with Travis, saying after his death, "I'm, like, hollow now. A worried Sandra put anti-anxiety medication, Xanax in a cup of Travis' afternoon tea to calm him down something that was later blamed for his subsequent actions. Posts Tagged ' woman attacked by chimp ' Another Pet Chimp Goes BeserkThis Time No Ones' Face Got In The Way October 20, 2010. The stress of defending the lawsuit and weighed heavily on Herold. After her husband died, she had nobody. Staff writer John Nickerson can be reached at john.nickeron@scni.com or 203-964-2320. A 200-pound pet chimpanzee in Stamford, Conn., Monday viciously mauled a woman he had known for years, leaving her critically injured with much of her face torn away, the authorities said. "She retrieved a large butcher knife and stabbed her longtime pet numerous times in an effort to save her friend, who was really being brutally attacked," Conklin said. But you know, we cant have everything, I guess. But the chimp - who weighed more than 200 pounds - viciously attacked her. Paul Desmarais/Staff photo, Sandra Herold, owner of Travis the chimpanzee, speaks to reporters in Stamford, Conn. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. He logged onto the computer to look at pictures, watched television using a remote control, and brushed his teeth using a Water Pik. She hated living alone in a house where she faced constant reminders of the vibrant and happy life she once led with her family and friends, he said. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Sandra Herold speaks to reporters. Bones from Charlas face were shattered and doctors later had to reattach her jaw. The surgery, which took place in May, lasted 20 hours and took . Herold and her husband owned Desire Me Towing & Auto Body, Multi-Phase Fabrication & Welding Inc and J&S Associates. [41] Afterward, PETA members allegedly harassed Herold, although the organization stated that it did not have any official involvement. Her home is adorned with photos of Travis, who starred in TV adverts for Coca-Cola and clothing store Old Navy. Doctors also had to remove her eyes because of a . Charla Nash after the attack when Travis ripped her face off. I dont want to just sit around. An Oregon deputy sheriff shot and killed a pet chimpanzee after the ape got loose and mauled a woman, according to a report. Woman banned from zoo after four year affair with chimp, Missing cat reunited with owner after she recognised meow on phone, Charla with baby Travis years before the attack, Charla appeared on Oprah just months after the attack to bravely show her injuries, Sandra screamed down the phone to police 'he ripped her face off! "Ms. Herold had suffered a series of heart-breaking losses over the last several years, beginning with the death of her only child, then her husband, then her beloved chimp Travis, as well as the tragic maiming of friend and employee Charla Nash," Golger said in a statement to The Advocate. CNN. Sandra, who was the only one to witness the full attack, claimed Travis approached Charla aggressively before getting on his hind legs, throwing her against the side of her car before launching the savage attack. "It's deceiving to think that if any animal is well-behaved around humans, that means there is no risk involved to humans for potential outbursts of behavior," she said. On February 16, 2009, at around 3:40p.m., Travis attacked Sandra Herold's then 55-year-old friend, Charla Nash, inflicting devastating injuries to her face and limbs. "[14], Travis could open doors using keys, dress himself, water plants, feed hay to his owners' horses, eat at a table with the rest of the family, and drink wine from a stemmed glass; he was so fond of ice cream that he learned the schedules of passing ice cream trucks. Chimpanzee known for attacking a friend of his owner, Christoffersen, John (2009) Associated Press, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, "Owner of chimpanzee in Conn. mauling dies at 72", "Chimpanzee Attack Revives Calls for Federal Primate Law", "State turned blind eye to Stamford chimpanzee", "Chimp attack 911 call: 'He's ripping her apart', Celebrity chimp who savaged handler in drug-fuelled frenzy shot dead, "Chimp mauling victim Charla Nash's $150 million lawsuit against Connecticut denied", Mom of crazed chimpanzee, Travis, also shot dead during rage in 2001, Owner describes chimps terrifying rampage, Victim's face mauled in Stamford chimpanzee attack, "Residents Shocked By Brutal Chimp Attack - Connecticut News Story - W", Chimpanzee shot after attack outside New York, "Owner Shared Bed and Took Baths With Chimpanzee From Connecticut Attack", Woman Mauled by Chimp Is Still in Critical Condition, "Pet chimpanzee attacks woman in Connecticut (Published 2009)", Family: Victim makes 'good, but small, progress", "Chilling 911 Call Chronicles Chimp Attack", "Officer Who Shot Rampaging Chimp Describes What He Witnessed", Woman Mauled by Chimp Has Surgery, and Her Vital Signs Improve, Charla Nash lost eyes, nose, and jaw in chimpanzee attack, Cleveland Clinic Gets Victim of Chimp Attack, "Chimp Attack Victim Reveals Face During Oprah Interview", Woman says Connecticut chimpanzee bit her in '96, "Conn. chimp that mauled woman had Xanax in system", "Chimp that mauled woman had Xanax in system", "Tests Show Chimp Had Anti-Anxiety Drug Xanax in System During Vicious Attack", "The Journal of Mind and Behavior, Winter, 1998", "Chimp Has Attacked Before, Woman Claims", "Owner, Travis the chimp had unusual bond", Crazed Chimp 911 Tape Revealed; PETA Peeps Harass Owner, Chimp Owner Hammered With Threatening Calls, "Sandy Herold Dead: Owner of Chimp Who Attacked Charla Nash Dies", "Charla Nash, chimpanzee attack victim, receives full face transplant in Boston", "$50M Chimp Attack Lawsuit Heads to Court", "Charla Nash, chimp attack victim, settles lawsuit for less than sought", "Charla Nash, Chimp Attack Victim, Denied $150 Million Lawsuit", "Chimp Victim Tries Again to Sue Conn. for $150M", "Man who lost face in '05 mauling knows hell of new chimpanzee victim", "911 tape captures chimpanzee owner's horror as 200-pound ape mauls friend", https://screenrant.com/is-nope-gordy-attack-a-true-story/, Slain chimp's owner now says it wasn't on Xanax, House tightens restrictions on chimps as pets, "After Shooting Chimp, a Police Officers Descent", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Travis_(chimpanzee)&oldid=1142499240, Animals shot dead by law enforcement officers in the United States, Articles with dead external links from December 2016, Articles with dead external links from July 2012, Articles with dead external links from January 2022, Articles with dead external links from February 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 19:06. Plastic surgeon reveals five cosmetic procedures she would NEVER get - from dangerous Brazilian butt lifts BEL MOONEY:Why does caring for my dad take over my life? [65] Twenty states and the District of Columbia already have laws banning primates as pets. Owner Tamera Brogoitti called 911 and urged police to kill her 200-pound. [67][68] The bill was never taken up by the U.S. Senate. Legal Statement. Meredith Vieira visited with Nash to catch up on all that has happened in the last few years, including Nashs most recent trip to the hospital. Charla Nash, a woman who was attacked by a pet chimp in 2009. Andrew lost part of his scalp, both ears, his nose, most of his fingers and part of his feet. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . His lips were ripped off, his cheek was torn apart and he was left with muscle damage that made it hard to swallow or communicate. She received a full-face transplant at Brigham and Women's . No one knows for sure why the chimps are attacking children but both curiosity and predatory reasons have been blamed. He doesn't look good. Charla Nash, 55, also lost the . [61] The editorial board of The Advocate newspaper in Stamford also supported banning the possession of all exotic birds and reptiles.[62]. Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? [56][57][58], Travis' escape and the subsequent attack of Charla Nash were used as part of the "Chimps" episode of the Animal Planet 2010-2011 documentary series: Fatal Attractions. Click here to upload yours. For other inquiries, Contact Us. The hands failed to thrive, but the face transplant was a success. [40] She claimed to have complained to the Herolds and to police, who stated they had no record of any such complaint. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. "I gave it my all and know my participation in the study will still be beneficial," Nash said in a statement to The AP. In Uganda, habitat loss for chimps sparked brutal conflict between humans and apes in recent years. [32], In accordance with standard procedure, Travis' head was taken to the state laboratory for a rabies test, and the body was taken to the University of Connecticut for a necropsy. An out-of-control, 200-pound pet chimpanzee that had recently been given Xanax apparently went berserk and mauled a woman in Connecticut, leaving her in critical condition. HARTFORD, Conn. - Lawyers for a woman mauled by a chimpanzee in Connecticut have agreed to settle a lawsuit against the estate of the primate's now-dead owner. Herold and two officers also were hurt, though authorities said the extent of their wounds was not immediately known. When that failed she grabbed a kitchen knife and repeatedly plunged it into the wild ape. An escaped chimpanzee, Travis, is coaxed into a waiting 4x4 in downtown Stamford on Tresser Blvd. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. Andrew now serves as the director of development for theOberle Institute, a trauma care program at Saint Louis University. Despite unimaginable challenges, Nash's spirit is unbreakable and she still finds joy at every turn especially in the mornings. When Travis on Feb. 16, 2009, attacked Nash, who was trying to coax the 200-pound animal back inside, Herold grabbed a butcher knife from her home. He got his start in newspaper writing at Orange Coast College in Southern California where he became editor of the school weekly, The Coast Pilot. We have no indication of what provoked this behavior at all.". Woman attacked by chimp and given face transplant hospitalized as body rejects tissue during drug test Charla Nash was taking part in an experiment in which doctors had tried to wean her off. [39], Shortly after the attack, a woman who had lived in the same area as Herold came forward with information that, in 1996, the chimpanzee had bitten her hand and tried to pull her into a vehicle as she greeted him. At around 3:40 p.m. 55-year-old Charla Nash pulled over at her friend's home. I was in tears for hours': Newlyweds lose more than $27,000 on their wedding after Jeremy Clarkson crowned 'UK's sexiest man' as ladies can't resist his 'bad boy farm vibe' - but what other 'I'm sat here panicking looking at the front door as we speak': Worried Sky streamers rip out their illegal 'I couldn't do it without you': Victoria Beckham poses with her whole family after her PFW show - as she Brooklyn Beckham puts on a loved-up display with wife Nicola Peltz as they head back to hotel after Cruz Beckham supports his mother Victoria as he carrying his very own VB handbag on the way to her show Like father, like daughter! Since that attack in 2014, attacks on children have continued, with at least three more deaths and six more injuries or narrow escapes. Prince Andrew has 'offered to manage prestigious Royal estates including Balmoral but King Charles has told PLATELL'S PEOPLE: Yes, Madonna toyboys are fun but not if you value your dignity. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Sound from the original 9-1-1 call, radio traffic from the police shooting of Travis, and the aftermath of the hunt were used in the episode. The woman whose face and hands were ripped off in a horrific chimpanzee attack, has revealed she is struggling to live her life four years on. Click here to read the full report from MyFOXNY.com. Sandra Herold, owner of Travis the chimpanzee, speaks to reporters in Stamford, Conn. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. In audio of her call to police, obtained by KHQ-TV, Tamara can be heard saying: "She needs an ambulance. Charla Nash was a big animal lover. She had asserted that officials knew the animal was dangerous but did nothing about it. Mrs Nash remains sedated in the hospital, which performed the first U.S. face transplant in December. Officers used cookies, macadamia treats and ice cream in an attempt to lure him, but subdued him only after he became too tired to resist. Connie Culp, the first US recipient of a partial face transplant, has died at age 57, according to Ohio's Cleveland Clinic, where she underwent the delicate operation nearly 12 years ago. 'Derek fights on, it makes me fall in love with him all over again:' Kate Garraway reveals there are days French authorities fear 'narco-tourists' could flock to Normandy beaches after 'more than two tonnes of Hopes for cervical cancer vaccine after trials in mice showed it reduced tumours 80 per cent of the time. Aug. 17, 2005 12 AM PT. "He bit both of her hands off and the cop told me he just kept eating her. On the fateful day, Charla, a friend and employee of Sandra's, had been asked to come over and help put the chimp into his enclosure. Also suffering brain damage from the attack, she is now living in a care home with someone elses face. Owner Tamara Brogoitti's daughter was mauled by the 200 pound ape, named Buck, with him biting her legs, arms and torso. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. How Prince Harry's chat with guru who compared Hamas terrorists to Jews who battled the Nazis has appalled JAN MOIR: Goodbye Ken, the world always seemed safer with you on the airwaves, Abstaining from masturbating RAISES risk of anxiety, depression and erectile dysfunction, study warns. Ive lost so much independence. And it comes as for the first time ever, scientists revealed they have witnessed wild chimps killing and eating gorillas. And he wasn't a horrible chimp. Fortunately, there won't be lasting effects on Nashs face. So I just wanted to go back to what I had. The 200-pound (91-kilogram) chimp was shot and killed by police. But as shocking as the life of Joe Exotic and his pet tigers has been - it doesnt begin to compare to the tragic tale of Charla Nash. Nash's twin brother Michael Nash said in a statement, "I informed Charla that Sandra had died. National Geographic reports that the problem has been going on for several years, citing an incident in 2014 that saw a chimp fatally attack a 2-year-old child, stealing the baby from his mother . READ MORE:Camilla Cornwall has 'unusual' animal earrings worth 20,000. [19] Within the following 72 hours, Nash underwent more than seven hours of surgery on her face and hands by four teams of surgeons. In 2003, the chimp had managed to escape the couples car while stuck in traffic. The . [31] Pictures have surfaced on the Internet displaying Nash's face before and after the attack. Police have dealt with him in the past, including an incident in 2003 when he escaped from his owners' vehicle in downtown Stamford for two hours. "Maybe from the medications he was out of sorts," he said. She appeared before lawmakers on. Mrs Nash was so badly disfigured that a police officer could not tell that she was a woman, and radios back: 'There's a man down. I am too upset," said Clumax, who said she was very friendly with Herold. The problem was highlighted by National Geographic in 2019, including an incident that saw a chimp snatch a two-year-old boy from his mother before breaking his arm, attacking his head, ripping his abdomen open and removing his kidneys. The 15-year-old chimp once starred in TV commercials for Old Navy and Coca-Cola. The ferocious attack by a chimpanzee of a woman in Stamford, Conn., on Feb. 16 wasn't a question of if but of when. But then this one biopsy said a slight rejection.. Theyve learned so much from all my testing and my input. Travis' screams can be heard in the background at the start of the tape as Herold pleads for the police, who initially believed the call to be a hoax until she said, "He's eating her! Owner of chimpanzee that mauled Stamford woman, dies, Stamford_041098_ Jerry, and Sandra Herold with their pet chimpanzee Travis, and the pet dog Zors on the pier at Cummings Park in Stamford, Conn. Paul Desmarais/Staff photo. I'm shocked. Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). [36] Toxicology reports confirmed Sandra's statement that she had given Travis Xanax-laced tea the day of the attack, which could have exacerbated his aggression. A Pennsylvania woman is being treated for rabies after she encountered lab monkeys during a truck crash on a state highway on Friday. He loves wooden boats and 454-cubic inch engines that power them. 'What!' she said. Market data provided by Factset. It's terrible," Lynne Mecca, a friend of the victim, told CBS News. "It's very hard to live. In a desperate bid to save her friend, Sandra picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed her pet chimp. Another pet chimp breaks out of its house and gores berserk on his neighborsdid we not learn anything from the face mauling victim Charla Nash? [13] The 2003 incident led to the passing of a Connecticut law prohibiting people from keeping primates weighing more than 50 pounds (23kg) as pets and requiring owners of exotic pets to apply for permits. Nash was backing off her anti-rejection drugs as part of a military-funded study designed to determine whether patients who receive arm, hand, leg or face transplants can safely taper off the medications, which come with serious side effects, including high blood pressure and diabetes. Her hands, eyelids, nose and lips were torn from her body. Travis became well known in the town and had been known to greet police officers they would encounter when towing cars. You can unsubscribe at any time. At first, Herold said she had given Travis Xanax, a drug used to treat anxiety disorders, before the attack, but then denied doing so. Police were called to the scene and say they had no choice but to shoot and kill the pet-gone-wild. After the incident, NBC reporter Jeff Rossen asked Sandra: After what you've been through with this - your friend is in the hospital fighting for her life - do you still think chimps should be pets?". Her hands, eyelids, nose and lips were torn from her body. Pat Eaton-Robb / AP. The oldest chimp in the wild that humans have recorded is 62. "He rides in a car every day, he opens doors, he's a very unique animal in that aspect. Travis was adopted by Sandra and Jerome Herold when he was just thee days old after his mother was shot dead while trying to escape the Missouri Chimpanzee Sanctuary. Publicado en . The incident happened Sunday morning at a horse farm in Pendleton, Ore., according to the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office. The Associated Press contributed to this report. I want to ride horses again, she told Vieira. Josh Einiger has the latest details. In just a few minutes, Travis had ripped off her face and hands, leaving her completely blind and severely disfigured. He also brushed his teeth using a Water Pik, logged onto the computer to look at pictures, and watched television using the remote control. 2023 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC, State report: Stamford discriminated against Westhill teacher, Maple Sugar Fest Sundays at Stamford Nature Center, After fleeing Ukraine war, refugees have found acceptance in CT, In Photos: Greenwich explodes with Shakespearean drama, poetry, Westport man denied pretrial program in sexual assault case, Warrant: video shows sexual assault in Central Greenwich home, Warrant: Bridgeport man broke into occupied Norwalk homes, Participation drops in high school internship after rule change, NJ man faces more charges in alleged money laundering scheme, New Canaan developer's affordable housing proposal may be cut, Stamford's Alive At Five summer concert series announces 2023 dates, State investigator finds Stamford schools discriminated against Westhill teacher during pandemic, Stamford changed the high school internship program and participation rates dropped from 320 to 8, Bridgeport man broke into Norwalk homes while families slept inside, warrants said, Warrant: Ex-New Fairfield 'lunch lady' sent nude images to student on Snapchat for months before sex assault, Owners of Stamford's Lofts at Yale & Towne sue BLT, saying developers knew it was unsafe when they sold it, After fleeing war and grief in Ukraine, refugees have found acceptance at a Stamford 'English Cafe', The Best Private High Schools Near Stamford, Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT, The Best Private Preschools Near Stamford. St James, then 62, tried to defend himself and his wife from the brutal attack, but after having his nose bitten off, fingers chewed off and right eye gouged out, he fell to the floor where he was mauled for at least five more minutes. That officer shot the chimpanzee several times, Conklin said. Clumax later said that in the past few years, Herold did not talk to many people about what was going on in her life. [27] After initial treatment at Stamford Hospital, Nash was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Charla Nash got a . Charla's face and hands were ripped off by teenage chimp, Travis in an attack which many still struggle to comprehend. Humans have suffered horrific injuries at the hands of the apes - which are estimated to be around four times more powerful than man. The attack was so horrific many details cannot be published. Travis was adopted by Sandra and her husband Jerome when he was just three days old after his mother was killed trying to escape the Missouri Chimpanzee Sanctuary in the US. She was not at that time in physical pain from the attack, and family members said she hoped to leave the Cleveland Clinic soon. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. LaDonna escaped with just a thumb lost - but her husband suffered catastrophic injuries and was hospitalised for six months. Travis even learnt to drive a car and was seen several times at the wheel around the neighbourhood. CHIMPANZEES may share almost 99 per cent of our DNA - but there is one thing that clearly sets them apart from humans: pure brute strength. Not even live - half-live., Sometimes you want to cry, you want out, you want some kind of home. [4][5][15] He enjoyed watching baseball on television. [12] Startled, Travis unbuckled his seat belt, opened the car door and chased the man, but did not catch him. Please!. Hurry up! Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal noted that a defect in the existing 2004 Connecticut law prohibiting chimpanzees of Travis' size, itself a result of the 2003 incident, allowed the attack to occur.