Chimps - The Ultimate Chums?

Despite the sad tale of Travis and other news about the dangers of living with a primate – let's be honest: what animal lover hasn't always wanted to own a chimp? Besides being adorable, what other pet is going to laugh at your jokes?

The Great Ape Project estimates that more than 500 chimps are owned by private individuals in the U.S. The numbers got us wondering – what are the pros and cons of inviting a monkey into your life?

Pros

- They're great company! Chimpanzee lovers find they can share activities, such as dining at the table, recreation, and even basic crafts like painting, that are not possible with non-primate animals. Their superior intelligence makes chimps feel more like friends than the traditional pet-owner relationship.

- Nothing's cooler than a chimp Whether you're out for a walk with your new best buddy, or throwing a party at home, pimpin' your chimp will be just golden for your social life; especially if your chimp is a chimp-lebrity!

- They're family! Chimps are estimated to share as much as 98% of our DNA. And their communications skills are so advanced that a few individuals (like the famous Washoe) have even been able to learn elements of American Sign Language.

Cons

- They're wild animals, yo! As the owner of Connecticut's infamous Travis discovered, even well-socialized chimps can revert to violent, instinctive behavior with tragic consequences. Many people believe it is not only dangerous, but also cruel to remove such animals from their native habitat. Click here for more information on the down-side of owning a chimp.

- They're expensive! It is possible to find sellers of dubious legitimacy offering chimps in online advertisements for as little as $1,500. However, healthy baby chimps, legally sold from established breeders, usually cost closer to -- get ready for your dream to die -- $40,000. With medical bills, specialized diet and housing needs, and an expected 30-year life span in captivity, it might just be cheaper to have a child.

- The law may not be on your side Primate ownership in the U.S. is regulated on a state-by-state basis, but many jurisdictions bar ownership of monkeys, either classified by species or weight-class. In addition, most large cities have even more restrictive rules on exotic pets. Click here to see one breeder's reckoning of states that allow primate ownership.

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Tags: chimpanzee, chimps, cons, ownership, pros