Ep 22. Killer Chimps in America
- TV-PG
- July 22, 2009
- 45 min
-
5.9 (16)
In the 22nd episode of season three of Monsterquest, titled "Killer Chimps in America," the team investigates reports of chimpanzees living in remote areas of the United States and attacking humans.
The episode begins with a dramatic reenactment of a chimp attack in Missouri in 1999, in which a pet chimpanzee named Travis attacked a woman and severely disfigured her face. The incident sparked a national debate about the risks of keeping exotic pets, but since then, there have been numerous reports of feral chimpanzees living in the wild throughout the United States.
The team sets out to investigate these reports and determine if there is any truth to them. They start by interviewing eyewitnesses and experts in primatology, who explain that chimpanzees are highly intelligent and social animals that are capable of exhibiting complex emotions and behaviors. However, when they are raised in captivity and not socialized properly, they can become extremely aggressive and dangerous.
The team then heads out into the field to search for evidence of feral chimpanzees. They explore remote areas of the country where these animals are said to be living, looking for signs of their presence such as footprints, scratches on trees, and discarded food wrappers. They also set up motion-activated cameras in the hopes of capturing footage of the chimps.
As they continue their investigation, the team begins to piece together a disturbing picture of what could be happening. They learn that many of the feral chimps were once pets that were released or escaped into the wild, and that they may be breeding and forming their own colonies. They also hear reports of attacks on humans and other animals, including a gruesome account of a chimp attacking and killing a dog.
Despite the dangers, the team persists in their investigation, hoping to learn more about these elusive creatures and the threat they may pose to people and animals. Along the way, they encounter a number of challenges, including difficult terrain, extreme weather conditions, and the ever-present danger of encountering an angry chimpanzee.
As the episode draws to a close, the team reflects on the sobering reality of feral chimpanzees in America. While the odds of encountering one of these animals in the wild are still relatively small, the potential for danger is very real, and people need to be aware of the risks involved. Whether or not there is a larger population of feral chimps living in the United States remains to be seen, but the team's investigations have shed light on a fascinating and troubling phenomenon that deserves further study. Overall, "Killer Chimps in America" is a thought-provoking and gripping episode that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats.