I love animals and I like chimpanzees. At zoos I'm not sure how much you get to play with chimps. Is there any kind of a place that keeps chimps for human visitors and allows the visitors to play with them?
2007-09-11 06:59:45 · 4 answers · asked by Worlds Greatest Armchair Warrior 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Although chimps and other large mammals are portrayed as friendly and enjoyable creatures to be around, the reality is much more sobering. Chimps, once they reach adulthood are dangerous and unpredictable. They're substantially stronger than a grown man and can do incredible damage very quickly. For that reason and for the fact that zoonotic diseases can more easily spread between the great apes and humans than many other creatures, they are generally not permitted near humans other than their keepers or other caretakers. Further, they are often frustrated in caged situations and will take their frustrations out on people around them by being violent or using other demonstrations (such as throwing feces) to display their anger.
Sadly, the media often protrays these animals in a rather two-dimentional way. Intelligent animals like dolphins and apes are shown to be friendly, likeable and enjoy interacting with people. The reality is that these creatures are wild animals and because of their intelligence are capable of killing their own kind, forced sex against young/infant animals, and other acts that were once thought to be only in the realm of human interactions. They often interact in a 'friendly' manner only to secure their food or other rewards and shun any contact not associated with either rewards or people known to provide rewards.
2007-09-11 08:10:54 · answer #1 · answered by SC 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
These are dangerous animals. Adult chimps are up to 10 times stronger than humans. I use to work at a zoo and there is NO interaction between the keepers and the chimps for that reason. Our zoo actually had chimps escape and attack two people. I'm talking a 4 foot chimp bringing down a 6'4", 220lb guy. It was ugly and scary. There was also a story of a couple that had raised chimps and then turned them over to a sanctuary. the couple went to visit the chimp, he got out of his cage and attacked. the guy lost part of his face, his genitals, and the wife got one of her fingers bit off.
So, do you really want to go play with the chimps now???
2007-09-11 16:36:52 · answer #2 · answered by Grinch 67 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Adult chimps can really be very dangerous, so I think this would be rare.
2007-09-11 14:49:08 · answer #3 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chimps can be very dangerous. They also may throw feces or semen at you.
2007-09-11 15:45:50 · answer #4 · answered by Lee S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋