Veterinarian Loses an Ear, 3 Fingers in Chimpanzee Attack
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LIGONIER, Pa. — A chimpanzee being moved from one cage to another on Monday attacked a veterinarian, biting off one of the man’s ears and part of one hand, police said.
Dr. John C. Kelliher, 43, of Adelphi, was helping animal keeper William C. Holmberg transfer two chimps when one of the animals attacked, police said.
Holmberg hit the enraged chimp, a 20-year-old male, with a large metal pipe, an officer said. As the animal released Kelliher, Holmberg pushed the veterinarian into an empty cage and locked him in.
When police arrived, Holmberg borrowed a gun and shot the chimp four times. An officer killed the animal with one more shot.
Kelliher was flown to a hospital in Pittsburgh. His condition was described as fair after surgeons amputated the thumb, fourth and fifth fingers of one hand. His left ear was bitten off and he was bitten on his face, head, scalp and one forearm.
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