One chimp shot, another tranquilized in Las Vegas

[undeterred]

10. I was around a young chimp for a summer in Africa.

The mother was killed and the infant was taken in as a pet by an American family. When I was there the chimp was about two and about toddler sized. Not a cuddly animal at all. But I used to pick her up by her arms and swing her around while I turned in a circle. She loved it. She would look at my face very intently and also at my clothes - fascinated by buttons and every little detail.

But she bared her teeth when she was not happy about something and it felt pretty threatening. She was in a shed outside the house and wild animals would come close to the house at night to try to get to her. I don't know what ultimately happened to her, but I can't imagine the outcome was good- the only options were to keep her until she turns mean and then put her to death or to release her into the jungle where she wouldn't last an hour.

An amazing animal, but not one to mess with.