Aug. 17, 2005 — A California man who was savagely mauled by chimpanzees in March is back home today after six months in the hospital. St. James Davis, 62, and his wife, LaDonna, were celebrating the 39th birthday of their former pet chimp, Moe, at the Animal Haven Ranch when two young chimps broke out of their cages and viciously attacked the couple. Davis lost most of his fingers, parts of his foot, a testicle and parts of his face, and both chimps were shot dead during the attack. LaDonna Davis, who lost a thumb in the attack, told "Good Morning America" she and her husband still believe most chimps are not dangerous. "Every animal, every being has good," LaDonna Davis told "Good Morning America" in March. "That's what you have to bring out of them." Raising Him Like a Son The Davises adopted Moe from Tanzania shortly after he was born, and by all accounts, loved him like a son. They taught him to wear clothes, to takes showers and to use the toilet, according to the Los Angeles Times. But after Moe bit a police officer in 1998 and a woman the following year, the chimpanzee was removed from the Davis' home by animal control officers and after a long custody battle ended up in the Animal Haven Ranch, about 30 miles east of Bakersfield, Calif. The Davis' visited him regularly, and were sharing birthday cake with him on March 3, when two young male chimps named Buddy and Olly broke out of their cages and attacked. "When we made eye contact, the charge was on," LaDonna Davis told "GMA" in March. "There was no stopping anything." La Donna Davis said the chimps pushed her forward so she fell into her husband with her arm around his neck. A chimp then bit off her left thumb, and St. James pushed her away to try to save her. The chimps then jumped on him, one at his head and one at his foot. The chimps, who each weighed more than 130 pounds, were shot and killed after the attack. Moe played no role in the attack. St. James Davis sustained multiple serious injuries and had at least 12 surgeries and physical therapy at the Loma Linda Medical Center. In June doctors took him out of an induced coma a removed his breathing tube. He returned home on Tuesday. "I am thankful that God and this hospital allowed St. James to come to me again," LaDonna Davis said in a press conference. "We are not finished with our life together and our affection for each other." Davis would not comment on whether or not there would be any legal actions against the ranch. There will be no attempts to bring Moe back to the Davis house as local laws will not allow it.
