Chimpanzees Aren’t ‘Pets’: Learn More About Buck From ‘Chimp Crazy’
The third episode of Chimp Crazy—the latest documentary from Tiger King director Eric Goode—tells the story of Buck, a “pet” chimpanzee who was shot and killed after he attacked and injured the daughter of his owner. But who was Buck the chimpanzee, and how did he end up in this situation to begin with?
Exploited From Birth: Buck’s Early Years
Buck was born in 2004 at the Kolwyck chimpanzee-breeding compound in Missouri. In nature, chimpanzees don’t wean until they’re at least 4 years old and can spend up to 10 years with their mothers. Buck was just 21 days old when he was separated from his mother and acquired by Tamara Brogoitti.
Brogoitti brought Buck to her home in Pendleton, Oregon, where he lived for the rest of his life, was mostly unable to exhibit his natural behavior, and was isolated from other members of his own species.
Oregon’s Chimpanzee Ban Didn’t Help Buck
In 2010, Oregon banned the private possession of chimpanzees and other dangerous animals but allowed animals like Buck, who were already permitted by the state, to stay with the humans who had acquired them. Although Brogoitti openly violated the conditions of her permit throughout the years, including by allowing Buck to roam freely in her home and on her property, the Oregon Department of Agriculture renewed her permit year after year.
PETA Took Action to Try to Find Buck a Spot in a Sanctuary
On April 16, 2021, PETA submitted a complaint to the Oregon Department of Agriculture alleging many violations of state law, including the following:
- Employing a veterinarian who lived/practiced nearly 2,000 miles away and wasn’t licensed to practice in Oregon (This would have been of no help if Buck had an emergency.)
- Allowing Buck to roam freely in his home and on the property instead of in his permitted enclosure (This created a risk of harm to Buck and those who lived with him as well as physical and financial damage to the public.)
- Apparently misrepresenting Buck’s age to an inspector with the department
PETA’s complaint led to an investigation, and on June 16, 2021, the department issued Brogoitti a letter noting several deficiencies, including those PETA had flagged in its complaint. The department gave her six months to correct the issues, and a PETA representative was in touch with her to discuss making a plan for Buck to be placed in an accredited sanctuary as soon as space became available.
Just four days later, Buck was killed.
What Happened to Buck From Chimp Crazy?
On June 20, 2021, Brogoitti called the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office: Buck was attacking her daughter. When sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, Buck was in an enclosed porch near the basement apartment. From inside the basement, Brogoitti yelled to deputies to shoot Buck in the head.
According to reports, Buck bit Brogoitti’s daughter on her torso, arms, and legs. Brogoitti blamed everyone but herself for the attack. She claimed that her daughter (who had a preexisting brain injury) had left a gate open, said that the authorities were to blame because their order to stop allowing Buck to roam freely led to his increased agitation, and even blamed PETA for filing the complaint. Buck had actually escaped when she took the garbage out that morning.
Brogoitti also was responsible for violating the requirements of Buck’s permit, had deprived the highly social animal of the companionship of other chimpanzees, and had kept him as a “pet” for years before he mauled her daughter. Buck’s death—like Travis’—was an avoidable tragedy brought on by selfish, greedy humans who wanted a “pet” chimpanzee to exploit.
No More Avoidable Tragedies: What YOU Can Do to Help Chimpanzees
PETA is helping to protect primates by urging the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan Captive Primate Safety Act, which would outlaw the purchase and transportation of primates across state lines and prohibit dangerous direct contact between them and the public.
You can take action by contacting your federal legislators and urging them to cosponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act:
Watch Chimp Crazy Today
Episode three of Chimp Crazy dropped on September 1 on Max. Watch the trailer below, and stream the series today:
