What was the name of the chimpanzee who was known for mauling the face of his owners friend back in 2009?

Travis was a 13 year old, 200 pound male common chimpanzee who had various acting jobs and appearances in television commercials. Travis was well adapted and knew how to do many of the things we humans do on a daily basis. Travis however, held up the 'typical teenager' stereotype, as he was well known as a trickster and unfortunately well known to law enforcement.

On February 16, 2009, Travis attacked his owner Sandra Herold's friend Charla Nash, mauling her all over, inflicting devastating injuries to her face and limbs. The incident started when Travis "stole" Herold's car keys. As a friend of Herold and familiar face to Travis, Nash came over to help her friend coax the chimp back inside. Upon seeing Nash holding one of Travis's favorite toys, he immediately attacked her. Herold, then 70 years old, attempted to stop Travis by hitting him with a shovel and stabbing him with a butcher knife. The chimp only became more enraged. Herold then called 9-1-1 and pleaded for help. Initially the dispatcher thought the call to be a hoax, until Herold started screaming, "He's eating her!"

Emergency Medical Services waited for police to arrive before approaching. Travis walked up to the police car when it arrived and attempted to open a locked passenger door, and then smashed a side-view mirror. He then calmly went around to the driver's-side door and opened it, at which point Officer Frank Chiafari shot him several times. Travis retreated to the house, where he was found dead next to his cage.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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25 Comments

Mark Ann Dubaz

I remember this horrible event in the news. It was reported on for days. This is a good reason why animals should be left in the wild.

flanderschristy

I thought the Chimps name was Marty but I remember this horrific incident well. They had a documentary years ago about people who owned Chimps that eventually turned on them & attacked. This was just one of the stories. They showed a re-enactment that seemed so real that it horrified me. It did however let us listen to the 911 tape. I was sure that the owner said "He's tearing her apart!" You could hear the Chimps in the background going crazy. It gave me chills. Up until this documentary, I had no idea how dangerous chimps were. I also learned that they have tremendous upper body strength & can deliver a bite strong enough to bite clear thru bone. This story just backs up what I've always said & that is that people should leave wild animals in the wild where they belong. They are not domesticated animals. It should not be legal!

Denise Currie

I remember reading about this. This is why animals that are meant to be in the wild do not make good pets, it is illegal in many countries and should be illegal world wide, disgusting practice involving a lot of animal abuse

Dave Mac

My questions always get corrected and re-submitted 2-3 times before they are accepted. I have deleted several good questions because of nit-picking reviewers.

Kristi Stevens

I don't knit why Quizzclub kept the note to reviewers on here as part of the description. I apologize as I have no way of notifying them!

skclary

Excellent question! I missed this one!!

tyafter

joesmoothfoster: Pit Bulls are not wild animals, they are domestic dogs that are only dangerous if they're TRAINED to be. Otherwise they are wonderful pets.

mainjim

Gawd...I remember the events about this being covered regularly on the news for some time.

joesmoothfoster

They are ANIMALS people! Just like pit bulls. At least she is still alive. Thank God.

elizawheeler

People should not "own" wild animals. They are meant to live in their own environment. If people get attacked by wild animals that they have imprisoned, they have nobody to blame but themselves. It's time people realized that animals have rights to live their lives without humans treating them like a game.

Char

A criminal chump? Too smart for his own good

markkcolemann

All people should remember that animals aren't meant to be kept as pets, some get away with it, look at the great Roberto Duran who had a pet Lion, that could have been disastrous! Animals deserve to be free, not caged for us to gawk at.

earlepg

flanderschristy, No, Charla Nash is still living. The chimps owner, Sharon Nash, died a year later. Please check my comment.

Pat Wells

Sad for the woman and the chimp.

Wyla Reedy

Imagine how they are in the Wild!

flanderschristy

Deb McAfee, No, the woman died if it's the story I'm thinking of & I believe it is.

Rob Farr

Thanks for posting a very good trivia question, Kristi ... it was an horrific event and worthy of bringing to our attention again. Good clear explanation too ... well done. Oh, and don't worry about the note to reviewers being posted as well ... these things happen, and it didn't detract in any way from your post.