Selling Primates May Become Federal Offense

In Connecticut on Monday, a woman was savagely attacked by her friend’s “pet” chimpanzee. When she entered her friend’s house, the chimp immediately threw himself at her and began to use his teeth to tear into her face and hands. She has been left with disfiguring injuries that she will live with for the rest of her life.

The owner of the chimp attempted to stab him with a knife and bludgeon him with a shovel, but it was a police officer, responding to a 911 call, who actually killed the animal with a shot from his gun. The owner claimed that this was a freak incident, but lawmakers are not convinced.

It has long been understood that chimpanzees remain wild animals, despite our efforts to domesticate them over the years. They may be trained to act tame, but their natural tendencies and inclinations often overrule any human training.

Lawmakers are now working to introduce the Captive Primate Safety Act in Congress. If the bill passes, it will make the purchase and sale of primates, illegal. They are also considering pressing charges against the chimp’s owner, because she allegedly knew that the chimp was agitated and gave him a drug to calm him.

For more information about animal rights and ownership laws, speak to a local lawyer today!