In 2009, a chimp named Travis,
who was kept as a pet for over 15 years, suddenly mauled his owner’s best
friend, a woman named Charla Nash. Nash lost her eyes, nose, lips and
hands in the attack before police fatally shot the primate. That incident has
been recalled frequently in recent weeks by members of a small
residential Las Vegas community who discovered one of their neighbors
is housing chimps on his property.
James “Mike” Casey, the resident in
question, is affiliated with “A Great Ape Experience,” which provides clients
with chimp and monkey entertainment for cocktail receptions and children’s
birthday parties. It also lists on its website quite a few charity appearances
at children’s hospitals and autistic schools.
The Associated Press reports Casey caused a stir in
his neighborhood recently when word got out that he applied for a permit to
house four chimps and a capuchin monkey at his home. Though the permit hasn’t
been approved as of yet, the AP and Casey’s neighbors all confirm he already
has primates living on the property.
The city's board members have him explain
that when they meet with Casey in November.
Linda Faso, Casey's neighbor and a
self-described animal rights activist, told the AP she's been petitioning
neighbors to join her in staging a protest outside of Casey’s home; Faso wants
to draw attention to the danger she says the animals pose to neighboring
residents.
She’s not far off the mark, though
whether the animals pose a bigger threat to the people or vice versa remains to
be seen. Recently in Las Vegas, two locally housed primates― not connected
to Casey― escaped from their home. (What is it with Vegas and chimps? Do
they not have dogs out there?)
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