Chimps' attack at Goodall center injures UTSA student

In this photo taken Feb. 1, 2011, chimpanzees sit in an enclosure at the Chimp Eden rehabilitation center, near Nelspruit, South Africa. A paramedic official says chimpanzees at a sanctuary for the animals in eastern South Africa bit and dragged a man at the reserve, badly injuring him. In a statement, Jeffrey Wicks of the Netcare911 medical emergency services company said the man he described as a ranger was leading a tour group at the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden Thursday June 28, 2012 when two chimpanzees grabbed his feet and pulled him under a fence into their enclosure. The international institute founded by primatologist Jane Goodall opened the sanctuary in 2005. It is a home to chimpanzees rescued from further north in Africa, where they are hunted for their meat of held captive as pets. less In this photo taken Feb. 1, 2011, chimpanzees sit in an enclosure at the Chimp Eden rehabilitation center, near Nelspruit, South Africa. A paramedic official says chimpanzees at a sanctuary for the animals in ... more Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Chimps' attack at Goodall center injures UTSA student 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A University of Texas at San Antonio graduate student was in critical condition Friday after two chimpanzees mauled him at a sanctuary for the animals in northeastern South Africa.

A UTSA spokeswoman confirmed that anthropology graduate student Andrew F. Oberle, 26, was injured in the attack at the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa Chimpanzee Eden near Nelspruit on Thursday.

He lost an ear and several fingers and toes, in addition to other injuries, the Telegraph of London reported.

Oberle underwent surgery at the nearby Mediclinic Nelspruit hospital Thursday night and was in the intensive care unit Friday, hospital spokeswoman Robyn Baard said.

“The doctors have said that the next 24 hours are absolutely the most critical time,” said Baard, who expected Oberle's mother to arrive in South Africa within a few days.

Oberle, who was reportedly working as a guide, was with a group of tourists near an adult male chimpanzee enclosure when the mauling occurred, said David Oosthuizen, executive director of the institute, in a statement.

Witnesses said two male chimpanzees, called Mickey and Amadeus, grabbed Oberle by his feet and pulled him under a perimeter fence and into their enclosure, then dragged him almost a half-mile, according to news reports.

“This is a terrible tragedy that should never happen,” Oosthuizen said. “All our thoughts and prayers are with this young man and his family.”

Attempts to reach Oberle's family were unsuccessful. The Associated Press reported that his mother, Mary Flint of St. Louis, said Friday that her son has been in South Africa since May and has been passionate about chimps since seventh grade, when he saw a film about Goodall. Flint said she doubted the attack would deter her son from his research.

Flint posted a notice on her son's Facebook page Friday afternoon asking for “prayers, healing energy and good thoughts his way.”

“He is in a drug-induced coma, and his condition is not stable enough for them to move him anywhere at this time,” she wrote. “I will be with him in the next few days. Please pray for him and his family and friends at this most difficult time.”

The facility, which was temporarily closed to investigate safety protocols after the mauling, houses chimpanzees rescued from illegal pet and bush-meat trades and the entertainment industry, Oosthuizen's statement said.

The mauling was the first of its kind for the sanctuary, which has been featured in the Animal Planet show, “Escape to Chimp Eden.”

Oberle's Facebook page is littered with photographs of chimpanzees he often referred to by name. A post from Tuesday included a photo of eight chimps staring past a fence at a chimpanzee doll.

“The gang checking out a Furbee-like chimp doll,” Oberle wrote, describing the photo. “Several stick were thrown and poked at it once it started moving its arms and making noise.”

He's taken courses at UTSA since fall 2008, and his graduate student profile on the university's website indicated his interest in researching primates. In May, UTSA awarded him a certificate in geographic information science, according to UTSA spokeswoman Christi Fish.

A UTSA statement said staff members were saddened to learn of the injury and that “our hearts go out to Andrew and his family.”

Oosthuizen said chimpanzees are defensive about territory and “can act aggressively if approached or if they feel threatened.” The ones at the sanctuary have already experienced abuse and injury by humans “and therefore have to be treated with caution.”

jlloyd@express-news.net

Twitter: @jlloydster