&sq=&lang=&file=File:Travis_chimpanzee.jpg) Travis in 2003 | |
| Species | Common chimpanzee |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | October 21, 1995 Festus, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | February 16, 2009 (aged 13) Stamford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Gunshot wounds |
| Known for | Attack on Charla Nash |
| Owner |
|
| Weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
Travis (October 21, 1995 – February 16, 2009) was a male chimpanzee who was raised by and lived with Sandra Herold in Stamford, Connecticut. On February 16, 2009, he attacked and mauled Herold's friend, Charla Nash, blinding her, severing several body parts, and lacerating her face, before he was shot and killed by responding Officer Frank Chiafari.
The incident received widespread international attention and sparked a debate over the logic and ethics of keeping primates as pets. In the aftermath, the Captive Primate Safety Act was reintroduced to add chimpanzees, among other primates, to the list of "prohibited wildlife species" that can't be sold or purchased through interstate and foreign sales. The bill died in committee but was reintroduced in 2024 and (as of August 2024) remains before Congress.[1][2]
- ^ "S.4206 - Captive Primate Safety Act". Congress.gov. August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Captive Primate Safety Act Would End the Cruel and Dangerous Primate Pet Trade". Animal Welfare Institute. May 1, 2024. Retrieved August 13, 2024.