Chimps Maul US Student at Goodall Sanctuary

Texan loses fingers, part of his ear in South Africa
By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 29, 2012 3:39 PM CDT
Chimps Maul US Student at Goodall Sanctuary
A photograph of chimps from the South African sanctuary, taken in 2011.   (AP Photo/Erin Conway-Smith)

An American grad student is in critical condition after being attacked by chimpanzees at Jane Goodall's sanctuary in South Africa. The student from the University of San Antonio, Texas, was guiding a group of tourists at the sanctuary for abused chimps when two large males pulled him under a fence into the animals' enclosure, reports AP. He got dragged for about a half-mile, and reportedly lost several fingers and part of an ear in the attack.

"The guy was just too close to the fence," the sanctuary director tells Reuters. The Texas school has identified him as Andrew Oberle, reports the San Antonio Express-News. The South African sanctuary, called Chimp Eden, was founded by famed primatologist Goodall and houses rescued, mistreated animals. (More chimps stories.)

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