Eyeless Chimp Victim Recounts Ordeal on Oprah

(NEWSER) - Charla Nash, the Connecticut woman nearly mauled to death by a friend’s pet chimp, has been making dramatic progress in recent weeks and is now talking, moving, and asking for her daughter, the New York Daily News reports. Doctors had feared Nash would never recover. “For a time we were very worried,” said her twin brother, Stephen. “Now it’s more hopeful.” More»

They say primate's owner should not have owned 'wild animal'

(NEWSER) - Relatives of a woman mauled by a pet chimp are suing the primate's owner for $50 million, the New York Post reports today. The family of Charla Nash says Sandra Herold had no business owning a "wild animal with violent propensities" because she didn't have the skill or strength to keep it under control. The chimp, Travis, nearly killed Nash last month before Connecticut police fatally shot it. Nash remains sedated and may need a face transplant. More»

Woman lost face and hands in attack, may have brain damage

(NEWSER) - Doctors are doubtful about any significant recovery for a woman attacked by a pet chimpanzee last month, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. Charla Nash lost her hands, lips, eyelids, nose and part of the bone structure of her face in the vicious attack, and has been in critical condition since. Doctors believe her injuries may have left her blind and with brain damage. More»

Animal was surrogate spouse for his owner

(NEWSER) - Sandra Herold and her chimp, Travis—who viciously mauled her friend—were unusually close, sharing wine and lobster and exchanging gifts, the New York Post reports. “What she had with that monkey was not normal,” one friend said. But Herold said outsiders don’t understand: “Until you've eaten with a chimp and bathed with a chimp, you don't know a chimp,” she said. “He slept with me every night. He combed my hair.” More»

'People tell me I'm beautiful': Charla Nash

(NEWSER) - A Connecticut woman brutally attacked by a chimpanzee 3 years ago says she's pleased that her face transplant isn't scaring people off. Venturing out in public these days, Charla Nash is regaining some sense of normalcy after undergoing triple transplant surgery for her hands and face, the New York Daily News reports. “I’ve had people tell me I’m beautiful,” Nash told Meredith Vieira on Today. “And they were not telling me I was beautiful before.” (See the video.) More»