Pet Chimpanzees Can Grow into Dangerous Animals

Chimpanzees are animals that some people find appealing as pets when they are young, but when the chimps grow up they become large and can be dangerous in a domestic household. Bubbles the Chimp was the companion of Michael Jackson for several years before being relinquished to a sanctuary for apes.

Perhaps the most famous chimpanzee companion ever was Bubbles the Chimp, the longtime companion of the King of Pop Michael Jackson. Bubbles and Michael Jackson seemed to be inseparable for a time. Jackson even took Bubbles on a trip to Japan, where the adorable chimp moonwalked for the media.

After Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, CNN's Anderson Cooper found Bubbles the Chimp and reported on his whereabouts on CNN AC360. Cooper found Bubbles in a Florida sanctuary, The Center for Great Apes. At the time Bubbles was 26 years old and was living in his second sanctuary, since the his first sanctuary, The Bob Dunn Sanctuary had closed in 2004.

There are conflicting reports as to whether Jackson visited Bubbles after he was relinquished to the sanctuary. Center for Great Apes Director Patti Ragan said that Jackson had never visited him there, even through it is likely that Bubbles would have recognized Jackson. Bubbles existence was described as peaceful, with the chimp spending his days eating, napping and spending time hanging out with the other apes.

Another pet chimpanzee that made the news was a more tragic story. A woman was mauled by her best friend's 200 pound chimpanzee, Travis, who ripped her face off before police shot and killed the chimp. Travis had previously been in advertisements for Old Navy and Coca-Cola at one time.

Having Chimpanzees as pets is legal in many states, although many states are taking steps to make the practice of having chimps in private homes illegal for safety and health reasons.

The founder of Project ChimpCARE, Steve Ross Ph.D, made a statement about the problems involved in owning chimps. Ross, said, "The sad fact is that there are too many chimpanzees living in private homes, and not enough funding for legitimate sanctuaries to provide them the long-term care they need once owners realize they can no longer meet their needs as adult."

Project ChimpCARE is a non-partisan group that is making an effort to locate every chimpanzee living in the United States and ensure they are being care for properly.Steve Ross chars the Chimpanzee species Survival Plan, of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which sets stringent standards of care for the chimpanzees In accredited zoos.

According to Project ChimpCARE there are 2,200 chimpanzees living in the United States. The chimps live in accredited zoos, unaccredited facilities, laboratories, sanctuaries and with breeders. Some chimps are held in facilities for entertainment and media.

Placing a chimpanzee in a sanctuary is not as simple as it might sound. The care of the chimpanzees is expensive and finding a facility to care for them may take time and money.