American chimp attack victim improves in Africa

Chimpanzees sit in an enclosure at the Chimp Eden rehabilitation center near Nelspruit, South Africa, Feb. 1, 2011. / AP Photo

(AP) JOHANNESBURG - Doctors are reporting improvement in the condition of an American graduate student attacked by chimps he was studying in South Africa.

In a statement, Mediclinic Nelspruit said Andrew F. Oberle, who had been in critical condition since Thursday's attack, was stable enough Sunday for doctors to bring him into the operating room to clean and stitch his multiple bites and attend to fractures and other injuries.

Oberle remains in intensive care, but is no longer in critical condition.

Two chimpanzees at the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden in eastern South Africa pulled Oberle under a fence into their enclosure.

Oberle, 26, is studying anthropology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He was on his second study visit to the sanctuary for abused and orphaned chimpanzees.

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[AVRWEBGUY]

Hope this young man get well soon. It's amazing to me how newsite posters can always be counted on to "know better". Perhaps students should just check here for any of their research.

[credibility2]

While a terrible tragedy, it was totally avoidable. This kid decided he knew better and entered an area that was policy not to enter. I guess he convinced himself he knew more than the experts at this reserve and is now paying for his foolishness. Humans shouldn't even study animals. Let them live in their own environments and to heck with them. They're savage and unpredictable and human intervention won't tame them.

[matt6052]

what a troglodyte

[Adress9871234]

"Second visit" with direct contact ?
Should have been more cautious. Chimpanzees are beaten by humans and live as prisoners. So it is reasonable to be sometimes aggressive. Especially the male, who may see male humans as challengers of the captaincy or of female chimps.
Wishes