The 2009 Attack of Charla Nash

Walsh, Bryan. "Why the Stamford Chimp Attacked." Time, 18 Feb. 2009,

content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1880229,00.html. Accessed 22

Mar. 2020.

Bryan Walsh recounts the horrific events involving a woman and a captive chimpanzee that took place on February 16th, 2009. Walsh first states the accident concisely, explaining how Travis, Sandra Herold’s pet chimpanzee, brutally attacked the neighbor Charla Nash. Nash’s face was ripped off, an indication that this chimpanzee had some serious psychological damage. Walsh attempts to investigate why this attack happened, quoting Colleen McCann “‘They are wild animals, and all wild animals are potentially dangerous…’” (Walsh). Walsh highlights that Travis was seemingly normal, doing human things like dressing himself and eating steak. This was merely a facade hiding the truth about chimpanzee’s true nature. Walsh clarifies that a territorial chimpanzee will attack and kill if deemed necessary. Walsh goes on to describe the severe ramifications of owning a chimpanzee and the surprising legality of it. This source is significant to my overall topic because it demonstrates the devastating consequences of keeping an animal captive. A woman was left permanently scarred and a chimpanzee had to die due to the selfishness of an exotic pet owner. This selfishness exemplifies human’s need to trap animals because of their silly fascination. Captivity like this leads declining mental health, creating an animal reaction that harms both the animal and people around it. Bryan Walsh appealed to both emotion and logic to strengthen the delivery of his argument. He kept the diction fairly conversational in order to allow the audience to understand the argument better. He then includes the perspective of primatologists and past exotic pet owners. Walsh effectively creates Travis and Charla as victims of the effects of captivity.

Wilson, Michael. "After Shooting a Chimp, a Police Officer's Descent." The New

York Times [New York], 24 Feb. 2010. The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/

2010/02/25/nyregion/25chimp.html. Accessed 22 Mar. 2020.

Michael Wilson offers Officer Chiafari’s perspective on Charla Nash’s attack and the trauma he experienced soon after. Officer Chiafari was the officer who had to shoot Travis after Travis unlocked his car door during Nash’s attack. After the attack, Chiafari experienced several nightmares and visions of women with their faces torn off. Wilson reveals to the audience that Travis was dosed up on Xanax and wine through the information from Chiafari. Despite Travis having attacked Charla Nash and smashed Chiafari’s windows, Chiafari does not hold Travis responsible. Chiafari explains his feelings on the victimization, saying, “‘I consider him a victim,’” he said. “‘He should have been in the jungle where he’s supposed to be. Not in a house drinking wine and taking Xanax’” (Wilson). This statement and overall perspective of Officer Chiafari further exemplifies how exotic animals should not be held captive. Society has seen and lived through the consequences, but some never learn. Wilson wants to inform and convince the audience through the use of emotion and credibility that animal captivity is dangerous for both the animal and the people around it. Similar to any source relating to the captivity of animals, a strong appeal to both emotion and credibility is used. Wilson is establishing his credibility to be discussing this topic by basing his argument around Chiafari’s perspective. Chiafari is a first-hand witness testifying to the effects of captivity. Wilson throws around the word victim, painful, and pulsating to make the audience feel pity and shock (Wilson).