CONNECTICUT, USA — A new series streaming on Max called "Chimp Crazy" follows the story of Tonia Haddix of Festus, Mo., who once owned a now shut-down chimp breeding facility.
Part of the series documents an incident from Stamford on Feb. 16, 2009. Charla Nash was attacked by her friend's pet chimpanzee, losing her face, hands and vision. She eventually received a face transplant.
After the brutal attack, the Captive Primate Safety Act, which was first introduced in the House of Representatives in 2007 but never passed, was reintroduced to Congress. The act would prohibit the ownership and sale of primates in the United States. In 2009, it didn’t pass the House.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is putting forth the legislation again, hoping the renewed conversations around primate ownership because of the Max show will get the bill passed.
“In captivity, in shackles, in isolation, restriction, [chimpanzees] can become highly dangerous and unpredictable,” Blumenthal said at a press conference Wednesday.
Nicole Rivard from Friends of Animals joined the U.S. senator in Hartford. Rivard shared stories of what happens when animals are rehabilitated at their Texas sanctuary.
“It’s actually amazing to see their transformation at the sanctuary when they get a second chance and they’re no longer kept or exploited as pets,” Rivard said. “These are animals who couldn’t move well or never socialized. They’re seen climbing, swinging, grooming each other and vocalizing their excitement when they see care staff.”
It's still legal to own primates in 20 states, with most having limitations or licensing requirements. It’s illegal to own or sell primates in Connecticut, but that doesn’t keep people from going out of state to purchase them.
Many Americans who currently own primates do so in secrecy, so the number of how many are kept as pets in the U.S. is unclear. Some estimates put the number in the hundreds.
“A staggering half of our approximately 200 primates, including lemurs, spider monkeys and chimpanzees, are former pets,” Rivard shared. “They were often kept alone in small cages and their lives were dismal. They arrive at the sanctuary overweight with nervous habits such as self or feverishly pacing their enclosure.”
People are tempted to buy chimps because they believe they are cute as infants. They attract lots of attention for their human-like characteristics. Animal experts said chimps grow to be very strong in adolescence and need space to roam and habitats that provide lots of stimulation.
Rivard said, “Primates are highly social and intelligent. They belong in the wild and not exploited as pets.”
Travis the chimpanzee, who attacked Nash and was ultimately shot and killed by police, was 13 years old. He was born at the facility documented in “Chimp Crazy.”
“Chimp Crazy” is created by the same people who made the widely-popular “Tiger King,” which inspired the passage of federal legislation which bans the ownership and sale of large cats in the United States. Blumenthal is hoping “Chimp Crazy” has the same affect, but for monkeys, large apes and other primates.
“In the last 15 years people have come to the conclusion that we need to do something about primates kept as pets,” said Blumenthal. “I’m hoping that will have some additional impetus as a result of the new documentary that’s been released that’s not only shown Travis and the destructive tragedy he caused, but also the more general problem.”
The final episode of "Chimp Crazy" will be released Sept. 8. Meanwhile, Rivard is hoping animal-rights supporters will call their lawmakers.
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