Chimp Haven frequently receives requests from people who wish to raise a chimpanzee as a pet in their private homes. We cannot discourage this strongly enough. Chimpanzees are wild - not domestic - animals. They are a physical and financial liability.

Owners are usually unaware of the lifetime commitment that is required when deciding to raise a chimpanzee. The chimpanzee may live as long as 50 to 60 years. The owner starts off as the caring "parent" to a tiny, helpless chimpanzee infant that is totally dependent on the surrogate parent - just as it would be on its biological mother. But by the age of five or six, the chimpanzee is too strong and clever to handle. As the chimpanzee grows - possessing seven to 10 times the strength of a human - it has to be locked away. Even if unintentional, the chimpanzee can inflict deadly damage to the humans who care for him. Chimpanzees are also very vulnerable to human illnesses, especially respiratory problems. A common cold can quickly kill an infant chimpanzee.

In addition to the physical hazards to humans and chimpanzees, if they are taken from their mothers as infants and continue to live in species-isolation, they do not develop appropriate social behaviors and communications skills. As a result, human-raised chimpanzees can no longer live with their human family and cannot easily adjust to life with other chimpanzees.

Chimpanzees, like all wild animals, are not pets. The most wonderful domestic animal, such as a dog or cat, is at a local shelter waiting to become your loving companion.