Chimp Gone Wild

wild animals

Entry posted by Prince Imrahil October 21, 2010

205 views

When will people learn that having wild animals as pets is a stupid/dangerous idea?

(CNN) -- A 300-pound chimpanzee got away from its owner's home and spent a half hour on the streets Tuesday, smashing a police patrol car's windshield, Kansas City, Missouri, authorities said.
"It was a bizarre lunch hour at 77th and Indiana today," Police Chief James Corwin's blog item began.

Animal control officers fired twice at the primate with tranquilizer rounds, striking it once, but Corwin called the shot "ineffective."

The chimpanzee dragged a trash bin and jumped on the patrol car, causing the damage. At least one officer was in the car, with video showing the vehicle quickly backing up and driving away from the chimpanzee.

It jumped on at least one other vehicle. Eventually, the owner got the chimp to get into a cage in the back of his pickup truck, police said.

CNN affiliate KCTV said the animal was taken to Monkey Island, a rescue and zoological sanctuary in Greenwood, Missouri.

"Police were ready with patrol rifles in case the animal became a danger to people," Corwin wrote.

Michael Abron and his girlfriend -- residents of the neighborhood where the chimp was prowling -- were so concerned that the chimp would knock down the door or break windows that they scrambled to the roof of their house, where they were able shoot video of the action.

"Oh my God, it was crazy!" Abron told affiliate KMBC.

Rhonda Flores, supervisor at the police department's communications office, said she did not know whether any citations were issued. CNN affiliates and the Kansas City Star said the owner was cited for having the animal within city limits. A message to animal control was not immediately returned Tuesday night.

CNN's Phil Gast contributed to this report.