Another Reason Wild Animals ...
Should remain in the wild.
A really sad story.
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Moe's owners mauled
Escaped chimpanzees viciously attacked the West Covina couple who raised Moe the chimp since birth as they celebrated the primate's 39th birthday at an animal sanctuary Thursday.
St. James Davis was visiting Moe at Animal Haven Ranch in Caliente -- just south of Bakersfield -- about 11 a.m. with his wife, LaDonna, when two male chimpanzees fled their cage and pounced on him, tearing at his face, limbs and testicles, witnesses said.
"Everybody was trying to get the chimp off," said Kern County sheriff's Cmdr. Hal Chealander. "(Davis') face was literally ripped off."
St. James Davis was airlifted to Kern County Medical Center, but later moved to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition, officials said.
Medics bagged Davis' severed nose and eye in hopes of reconstruction. His foot was gnawed off during the attack, Chealander said.
LaDonna Davis -- bitten when trying to help her husband -- suffered less severe injuries to her arm and was taken to a local hospital, officials said.
Mark Carruthers, son-in-law of the ranch's owners, shot both chimps to death during the attack, Chealander said. While one chimp did most of the damage, the other was lunging back and forth as if he was poised to join the melee.
Two female chimps who also escaped were coaxed back into their cage just before 5 p.m., said Steve Martarano, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Game.
"It is my understanding that Moe was not one of the chimps who escaped or attacked," Martarano said.
Officials still do not know how the chimps escaped.
"I could not believe the kind of damage (chimps) could do," said Kern County fire Capt. Doug Johnston.
The Davises were bringing a birthday cake for Moe and were planning a birthday party including the other chimps, said Joyce Kasnetsis, a neighbor of the Davises.
Johnston said St. James Davis suffered extensive "maul" type injuries. Paramedics found him conscious at the scene.
"This is such a cruel, terrible irony," said the Davises' attorney Gloria Allred, who added St. James Davis loved chimpanzees. "It's just heartbreaking. ... I know he has a fighting spirit."
Kern County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Jeff Hunt said he didn't know how the chimps got loose beyond that the chimps acted up as the workers were trying to get them back into captivity.
West Covina officials, who forced Moe out of the city after he allegedly bit a police officer and a woman visiting the chimp, expressed sadness over the attack.
"My hearts and prayers go out to the Davises," said former West Covina City Councilman Mike Touhey. ‘'It is just a very, very tragic thing. I feel deeply for St. James and LaDonna. It's just a very sad day."
West Covina police Chief Frank Wills said they called the Kern County sheriff's officials who confirmed the Davises were attacked.
"It's just awful. And it's just tragic," Wills said. "It had to be a frightening, awful experience. Tragic to happen to anybody. Our prayers are with them."
Wills said he hopes the Davises make a full recovery.
He called St. James Davis a friendly and gregarious person.
The West Covina Police Department consulted with experts after Moe allegedly bit the fingertip of a woman who had visited him at the Davises' Vincent Avenue home in 1999.
St. James Davis said he rescued Moe from poachers while visiting the African country of Tanzania in 1966. He and his wife spent the next 30 years raising Moe as a son.
In 1998, Moe had escaped his cage at the home and bit the officer who tried to apprehend him.
However, Wills remembers a USC expert telling him that it wasn't accurate to say Moe attacked Officer Marco Plebani.
"He's establishing territory when he attacked Marco. Just establishing territory," Wills said. "If (he) wanted to kill Marco, he would have done it. Experts said a chimp could take off a hand very easily. They have three to five times the strength of a human being."
The expert told police when the chimp bit the officer it was a conscious effort on his part not to take the hand off.
Martine Colette, animal director of the Wildlife WayStation where Moe was kept before heading to Animal Haven Ranch in September, didn't know the circumstances of what happened at the Animal Haven Ranch.
But generally, this type of attack is unusual among chimps.
"This kind of attack is not typical," Colette said. "If the chimp gets out of enclosure, they run around and investigate things. They may go into a house and raid the fridge. Generally they don't search people and attack. Something triggers it."
Allred spoke to LaDonna Davis after the attack, and said St. James Davis is "a totally innocent victim."
Tom O'Donnell, 63, of West Covina said he's a friend of the couple. He heard on the news about what happened and drove down to Loma Linda University Medical Center. He got there at 8:30 p.m.
"I'm a friend of the family and I'm here to offer my services," O'Donnell said.
He waited Thursday night in the emergency room and passed word to hospital staff that he would offer a ride to Mrs. Davis.
Animal Haven Ranch has held state permits to shelter animals since 1985 and serves as a sanctuary for animals that have been confiscated or discovered lost, Martarano said.
It is allowed to house up to nine primates at one time and is home to one spider monkey and six chimpanzees, he said. The permits are held by Ralph and Virginia Brauer, who refused to comment.
Martarano said he is not aware of any past problems at the Animal Haven Ranch. He said its sheltering permit expires March 20.
A woman who answered the phone at Animal Haven Ranch said she couldn't answer reporters' questions.
