Saving Face in Havilah

Okay, we are sure that all of you have already heard about this story,
but we couldn’t resist linking to it, just to preserve the link for our
future reference.  This has to be a benchmark for poorly-reeived
birthday wishes, ill-advised adoptive practices, and biting the hand that
feeds.

HAVILAH, Calif. — Investigators said yesterday that
they are trying to determine how two chimpanzees that attacked a couple
visiting an animal sanctuary escaped from their cage.

The chimps chewed off St. James Davis’s nose and severely
mauled his genitals and limbs Thursday before the son-in-law of the sanctuary’s
owner shot and killed the animals, authorities said.

The couple had brought Moe a cake and were standing
outside his cage when Buddy and Ollie, two of the four chimpanzees in
the adjoining cage, attacked St. James Davis. The chimps chewed off most
of Davis’s face and tore off his testicles and foot, Chealander said.

Don’t you hate it when that happens? And what’s
up with that name? "St. James" as a first name? Who
would name their kid "St." How could he be sure it wasn’t really short
for "Street"?

from the
Boston Globe