5 Chilling Facts About The Pet Chimp Attack That Changed US Exotic Pet Laws

The horrific 2009 attack by a 200-pound pet chimpanzee named Travis on a woman in Stamford, Connecticut, remains one of the most brutal and widely publicized animal attacks in modern history. The victim, Charla Nash, survived the savage mauling but was left with catastrophic injuries that sparked a national conversation about the dangers of keeping exotic pets and the inadequacy of existing legislation. This incident, which occurred on February 16, 2009, continues to echo in legislative halls today, with a direct impact on current proposed laws.

The story of Charla Nash is one of immense tragedy and incredible resilience. As of late 2025, Charla is still alive and continues her journey of recovery and advocacy, having undergone one of the world's most complex facial transplants. The details surrounding the attack—from the chimp's celebrity past to the drug found in its system—reveal a complex and disturbing chain of events that culminated in a life-altering tragedy for everyone involved.

The Complete Profile: Charla Nash, Travis the Chimpanzee, and Sandra Herold

The tragedy of the Stamford chimp attack is centered on three key figures: the victim, the animal, and the owner. Understanding their backgrounds is crucial to grasping the events of that fateful day.

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Charla Nash (The Victim)

• Role: Friend and employee of the chimp's owner, Sandra Herold. She was helping to lure the chimp back into its cage when the attack occurred.
• Attack Date: February 16, 2009, in Stamford, Connecticut.
• Injuries: Suffered catastrophic, life-threatening injuries, including the loss of her nose, lips, eyelids, and hands. She was left permanently blind.
• Medical Procedures: In 2011, she underwent a full face transplant at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, a procedure that took over 20 hours and involved a team of more than 30 clinicians.
• Current Status: As of the most recent updates, Charla Nash is in her 60s and continues to live with the long-term physical and emotional consequences of the attack, including a period of transplant rejection five years after the initial surgery. She has become a vocal advocate for stricter exotic pet laws.

Travis the Chimpanzee (The Attacker)

• Species: Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).
• Birth/Death: Born October 21, 1995 – Died February 16, 2009.
• Background: Travis was raised by Sandra Herold from infancy, living in a suburban home as a human family member. He was toilet-trained, brushed his teeth, dressed himself, and was known to drink wine.
• Celebrity Status: Before the attack, Travis was locally famous and had appeared in several television commercials, including spots for Coca-Cola and Old Navy.
• Cause of Attack: On the day of the attack, Travis was reportedly agitated and had been given Xanax (alprazolam), an anti-anxiety drug, by his owner.
• Death: He was fatally shot by a Stamford police officer after the officer arrived and witnessed the brutal mauling.

Sandra Herold (The Owner)

• Role: Owner of Travis the chimp and Charla Nash's employer/friend.
• Aftermath: She passed away from an aortic aneurysm in 2010, just over a year after the attack.
• Legal Action: Nash’s family filed a $50 million lawsuit against Herold, which was later settled for $4 million.

The Anatomy of a Tragedy: Why Travis Attacked Charla Nash

The chimp attack was not a random act of violence but the culmination of years of dangerous exotic pet ownership and a volatile situation. Chimpanzees, despite their intelligence, are powerful wild animals whose natural instincts cannot be suppressed indefinitely.

The Triggering Event: The Blue Toy. The immediate cause of the attack was Charla Nash holding a strange, blue, laminated toy near Travis. Travis, who was already agitated, apparently became distressed by the unfamiliar object and the presence of someone he may not have immediately recognized.

The Role of Xanax. Post-mortem toxicology reports on Travis confirmed that he had Xanax in his system at the time of the attack. The drug was given to him by his owner, Sandra Herold, in a misguided attempt to calm the 200-pound primate after he had become agitated and ran out of the house with Herold’s car keys. Experts have suggested that the drug may have exacerbated his aggression or altered his behavior, making the situation more dangerous.

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Primate Instincts vs. Domestic Life. Travis was a fully grown male chimpanzee, an animal possessing five times the strength of a human male. As a primate reaches adolescence (around age five), their wild, aggressive instincts—especially territoriality and dominance—become impossible to manage in a domestic setting. The attack served as a stark, horrifying reminder that wild animals, even those raised in a home, are not pets.

The Lingering Legislative Impact: The Captive Primate Safety Act

The brutal mauling of Charla Nash by Travis the chimp did more than generate sensational headlines; it spurred a long-term, ongoing effort to change federal law regarding the private ownership of exotic animals. This legislative push is one of the most current and relevant updates to the story.

The Need for Federal Action. Following the attack, it became clear that state laws on exotic pet ownership were dangerously inconsistent and often ineffective. In Connecticut, where the attack occurred, it was legal to own a chimp under a grandfather clause until 2009.

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The Captive Primate Safety Act. This proposed federal legislation, often championed by Charla Nash herself, aims to prohibit the private possession of nonhuman primates and ban the sale or transportation of these animals for the wild "pet" trade.

Current Status (2023-2024). The Captive Primate Safety Act continues to be an active piece of legislation in the U.S. Congress. As of the 118th Congress (2023-2024), versions of the bill (S.4206 and H.R.8164) have been introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The legislative effort to pass this law is a direct, enduring legacy of the Stamford chimp attack, with advocates citing Charla Nash's experience as the ultimate cautionary tale.

Charla Nash's Incredible Fight for Recovery and Justice

Charla Nash’s recovery is a medical marvel and a testament to her strength. The journey has been fraught with challenges far beyond the initial trauma.

• The Face Transplant: The 2011 full face transplant was a groundbreaking procedure, replacing her nose, lips, facial skin, and jaw. It represented a crucial step in giving her a chance at a normal life, though the recovery required constant monitoring and immunosuppressant drugs.
• The Hand Transplants: Nash also received a hand transplant during the same surgery, but the body rejected the new limbs, forcing doctors to remove them. This highlighted the immense difficulty of transplanting multiple, complex limbs.
• The Legal Battle: In a bid for justice and compensation, Charla Nash sought permission to sue the State of Connecticut for $150 million, arguing that state officials knew the chimp was dangerous but failed to seize it. In 2013, she was denied the right to sue the state, as the state has sovereign immunity from such lawsuits.
• The Ongoing Health Struggle: Years after the transplant, Nash experienced a serious rejection episode, requiring her to return to the hospital for intensive treatment. Her life remains a continuous process of medical management and rehabilitation.

The story of the pet chimp attack on Charla Nash serves as a powerful, enduring lesson on the unpredictable nature of wild animals in captivity. It is a cautionary tale that has since mobilized animal welfare groups and lawmakers, ensuring that the tragedy continues to drive meaningful change in the realm of exotic pet ownership and public safety. The entities involved—from the victim to the animal and the resulting legislation—all form a complex narrative that defines the ultimate price of domestication.