Conn. Biologist Warned Of Chimp Danger

(AP)  A Connecticut biologist warned state officials nearly five months ago that a 200-pound chimpanzee who mauled a woman last month could seriously hurt someone if he felt threatened, according to a memo released to state lawmakers Friday.

The biologist also said the chimp's owner violated state law, and ended her note with the prophetic warning: "I would like to express the urgency of addressing this issue. It is an accident waiting to happen."

The two-page document was written on Oct. 28, 2008 by an unnamed Department of Environmental Protection biologist and given to senior staff at the agency's Bureau of Natural Resources.

It was discovered in an ongoing internal agency review prompted by the mauling incident.

"The animal has reached adult maturity, is very large, and tremendously strong," the memo says. "I am concerned that if he feels threatened or if someone enters his territory, he could seriously hurt someone."

The biologist said it was unclear whether the chimp's enclosure was strong enough to secure the animal named Travis, owned by Sandra Herold of Stamford and kept at her home.

Neither Herold nor her attorney immediately returned telephone messages seeking comment Friday evening.

Charla Nash was critically injured Feb. 16 when she was attacked by the 200-pound chimp. Nash's attorneys say the 55-year-old woman lost her hands, nose, lips and eyelids and may be blind and suffering brain damage after the attack. She is being treated at the Cleveland Clinic.

Earlier this week, Nash's family filed a lawsuit against Herold accusing her of negligence. The suit seeks $50 million in damages.

Dennis Schain, a DEP spokesman, said officials reviewed the memo, but decided it did not present any new, specific information about any violent incidents involving the chimp.

The memo does, however, mention how the chimpanzee had escaped from Herold's car and led police on a chase for hours in downtown Stamford in 2003.

"In hindsight, we certainly wish we acted more aggressively," Schain said Friday. "We just felt hamstrung by the ambiguity in the law and the difficulty of pursuing various options."

A bill before the General Assembly, which would ban the possession of potentially dangerous animals including chimpanzees and other primates, cleared the Environment Committee on a 28-2 vote on Friday. It awaits further action in the House of Representatives.

The biologist's memo was included in a packet of information sent to legislative leaders, urging them to pass the bill.

In the memo, the biologist said Herold's possession of the chimpanzee clearly violated an existing law that prohibits someone from owning a primate that weighs more than 50 pounds at maturity.

The biologist suggested sending a letter to Herold and informing her of the violation and giving her options on how to comply with state law.

The biologist also raised the possibilities of allowing Herold to keep the animal, but in a stronger enclosure; issuing Herold a permit, which the biologist admitted would be "irresponsible"; giving Herold the choice to relocate Travis; and contacting local police to see if a chimp is permitted by local zoning laws.

The memo also suggested having Travis tranquilized and removed from the home, but the biologist said, "This would be extremely traumatic for everyone involved and riddled with problems."

Ultimately, officials "chose not to enter into what we believed would be a battle to take custody of a local celebrity," DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy said in a letter to legislators.

McCarthy said the memo underscores the need for a clear, new law that would forbid ownership of potentially dangerous animals as pets and impose stiff penalties for those possessing them.

[brianbajnauth]

dam that is bad u took da pain im sorry for uuuuu

[dixxson]

She must sue the state also!
For thinking the American Way.
With their "GUT" instead of their Brain!
Recently in California a man discovered 20 ft Yellow Python in his Yard!
Police & Animal control captured it, and released it to his Neighbor (Owner)
If the Creepy Neighbor had been caught with a Bag of WEED,
He would have been Thrown to the Ground, Beaten, Tasered and then shot!
"Guts minus Brains"

[aziridine]

Now,Newster1, since you're being a dork...tell how you know that alcohol was the causative factor in each "accident involving a drinking driver". I know it is convenient for you to assume so but i you actually subtract the background of other potential causes from your "alcohol- involved" number?

[aziridine]

In 2006, there were 13,470 fatalities in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver (BAC of .08 or higher) ? 32 percent of total traffic fatalities for the year. Posted by Newster1
_________________________________________________________________

Wow, so 68% of traffic fatalities were caused by SOBER drivers sounds like we need to ban sober drivers. Your statistic means noting unless you tell us what % of total drivers are blowing .08+. If , for example 40% of driver blew .08 or more that would make them safer than your average driver. This is what happens when you paste meaningless **** tha you dont understand in hopes of appearing knowledgeable.

[aziridine]

Obama weighs more than 50 lbs!!!

[payasyougo]

"Conn. Biologist Warned Of Chimp Danger"
----
And various folks continuously warn about the dangers of pit bulls. Every interview w/ the owner of a pit bull after a child is killed shows they had no idea their pet could do such a thing.

[sndkzyaa]

Obviously, some people have no common sense and laws are on the books to protect us from their stupidity.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 3:42 AM : Mar 21, 2009

Yes, and it's equally obvious that our government is utterly failing to enforce those laws, so we suffer from the stupidity of others.

Or we suffer from the astronomical greed of others, like Madoff.

[sndkzyaa]

this country has more than 305 MILLION people
Posted by Newster1 at 11:16 AM : Mar 21, 2009

And how many of them own a 200 pound chimpanzee in blatant violation of a law limiting animals to 50 pounds??

And the local authorities say there's something ambiguous about the law, so that's why they didn't do anything??????

Nobody said anything about protecting against all risk.

I'm talking about authorities ignoring blatant violations of the laws they're supposed to be enforcing.

Like the lady who owns a 200 pound chimpanzee that's 150 pounds over the limit.

And like Madoff getting reported in to the SEC with mathematical proof that he's committing fraud.

And in both cases, the responsible authority did nothing.

Our government has failed.

It does nothing anymore except enrich itself at our expense and keep itself in power over us.

[thetireguy1]

I'm surprised a lawyer hasn't filed a lawsuit against the cops for excessive deadly force
they (cops) used on the chimp after all he did go back to his room after being shot!
I'm mean the cops should have called for an ambulance for the chimp, just like they do
for even the common criminals!! That's right he was just a chimp, but didn't DARWIN
and all the anti GOD believers, believe that the human race came from apes(cousins of chimps)
The lady who raised and even slept with this chimp has a screw loose or two!
Animals attack and kill just like humans do!
The poor lady who was hurt trying to talk to this chimp deserves all the money she can get!

[McHineguy]

I know, lets have congress pass a tax law to get 90% of the chimp back. Congress is good at things like that. Especially this congress.