Zoos spend millions keeping them penned. Even the nicest people love to watch them kept behind concrete, iron bars or bullet proof glasses. Chimpanzees are just like our babies and can do much more than a cat and a dog. They are smart and share 98.5% of the human genes. They need full time attention. You may have to carry the chimp around all the time. The idea of a babysitter will be very unsuccessful. They also throw temper tantrums just like a regular child. However the only difference is that they grow up to be seven times more strong than the human. They may bite and cause serious injury.
People have been keeping chimps as pets for many years now. Many celebrities of the past and the present have owned chimps as well along with people like our next door neighbors. The idea of having a pet is so close to the humans, it is nothing new but that these almost human creatures now raise a lot of dilemmas when it comes to the petting them.
Chimpanzees are also called Common Chimpanzees. The males can grow up to be 150 pounds while the female ones are slightly smaller. They can live for around 50 years, so owning a chimpanzee can lead a big hole in your pocket. Chimps need long years of continuous service which might get monotonous and a little tiring. But they are such a huge packet of entertainment and fun, you will have no knowledge of the passing time in the company of your chimp.
Chimpanzees are very familiar to the humans, perhaps because so much of their behaviour reminds us of ourselves. They are considered great apes list like gorillas, orangutans and Bonobos. They are extremely social and intelligent animals. They are active, strong and very hands on. They usually thrive in social groups of other chimpanzees and groom each other often. So buying two or more chimps together will be helpful for them individually in associating and growing up. Young chimps are declared adults at the age of 13. Once they reach adulthood thy can become quite physical, harmful as well as demanding. This is when many chimp owners leave hope. Therefore petting a chimpanzee comes with a lot of responsibilities altogether. They spend their day much like us, they eat, sleep, socialize and play. Chimps can get bored easily if they have nothing constructive to do. They can also turn aggressive and cause harm.

Earlier many chimpanzees used to be trained as service animals and would help their owners do everything like cooking, opening doors, picking up items, washing dishes and even dialing 911. Some people have trained their chimps to learn sign languages, dress up all by themselves and do so many other things we can never even think about seeing a primate do. It also includes using the remote to watch television, eat from the plate all by themselves, play with toys made for a human child.
It is also important that chimpanzees are toilet trained while many owners make them wear diapers. They can learn if taught properly. Besides they can also perform activities like eating from the plate with a knife and a fork, picking up toys just like a young boy learns to do.
Chimpanzees are omnivores which mean they eat both plants and animals. Fruits, leaves, insects, eggs, tree bark, nuts and ocassionally even smaller animals have been observed to be consumed by the wild chimps. And who doesn’t know about bananas being their favourite food, just like ice-creams are ours. While in captivity, their primary diet should be formulated and nutritionally complete. While these primary diets offer much of what a chimpanzee needs, they lack in encouraging the foraging behaviour which is such an important part of their mental stimulation. Breaking open the nut, picking leaves off the branches, biting into fruits, slicing the banana are activities necessary for their well-being and should be encouraged in addition to feeding the primate diet. The basic states that if your chimp weighs 100 pounds, he should eat about four pounds of food in a day which is ideally adjusted to maintain his body weight. However if you feed your chimpanzee delicacies, spaghetti, keep it on a diet of fast food or take it out for Chinese, he will obviously live and grow but not a long or either a healthy life.
Regular veterinary visit ensures their healthy lifestyle. Heart disease, dental disease and diabetes are common in them. Every primate should be closely monitored for the diseases. Vaccinations discussed with the vet should only be given according to the correct schedule.

Chimpanzees are atleast four times as strong as humans and hence need a durable enclosure to keep them contained when you are unable to watch them. A single room or a large outdoor enclosure dedicated to your chimp along with plenty of ropes, swings, play – items can be a perfect residential home for them. Usually they need bigger space to move around and exercise. If they are made to sit ideal in one place for long hours, they will be depressed and fall sick. Proper play and playmates will provide the best platform for wise channeling of his energies. So in case you remain busy and outdoor for most part of the day, it’s always suitable to but two chimpanzees together so that both can complement each other and never get bored. Glass windows should be protected from being shattered by a strong chimp throwing items towards it.

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Let’s say there’s someone who really loves animals, someone who genuinely cares for animals and would find it a privilege to be able to own a pet. But due to some reason is unable to fulfill this wish of theirs. Financial constraints, lack of space, unavailability of time to devote to them or incompatibility with the other members of the household. Sometimes, one’s profession is such, that it demands constant travel. This translates to inability to take proper care of the pet. In cases like these, there is a need for establishments that cater to such people. A place where one can go and live the life they have always dreamed of.

The concept of petting zoos first came into the picture when the London zoo started a children’s zoo with domesticated animals and trained wild animals, which they could play with, touch, pet and even feed. With time this idea grew and spread to other cities around the world. There are places that are still reluctant to accept the idea of opening up their zoos for human contact. The apprehension could be due to the investment that it requires in terms of capital and staff. While at the same time, some might say that there’s a certain risk factor involved for people and animals alike. One cannot expect every person to be genuinely caring towards the animals. Certain people including children find it amusing to try and harm or pester the poor creatures. Similarly, some time an animal might be particularly unpredictable.

But zoos, where this experiment has been successful, vouch for the increased acceptance and popularity of animals as an integral part of one’s well being, compared to where one could only view them from beyond safety enclosures. It is also an effective source of revenue generation as well as increased employment opportunities amongst professionals trained in handling animals. The importance of affinity towards animals was propagated through such an experience. Awareness towards how they should be treated was also generated. Hands on experiences are useful in making professions to do with animals, an evidently viable career option too. It also helped to change the thought amongst people that one must stay away from animals. One needs to be careful but not scared of them. As a result people got an opportunity to experience bonds with animals. One could explore the love that any animal feels for someone who treats it right, whether they are pet, domestic or even wild, in most cases.

The animals that are usually considered for petting zoos are well trained. Domestic animals such as cows and goats are often used. Some wild animals that are harmless are also present. Alpacas, llamas, monkeys, pythons and even kangaroos are often found to be some of the popular choices. Guinea pigs, turtles, birds, miniature donkeys, rabbits and ponies are especially loved by young children. The zoos provide the patrons with relevant food, to ensure the health and well being of the animals is not compromised, and at the same time it is convenient for them. Food often fed to them includes hay, grass or crackers based on the animal in question. This is an exception to the general rule of not feeding zoo animals.

Animal lovers will tell you that the mere petting of an animal can successfully help you release the stress and tension of regular day-to-day life. Even watching them go about their business at leisure soothes the nerves. A genuinely happy animal can transmit similar feelings into those around it. Their lovable and adorable nature makes one feel special in an instant. Scientific studies have proven the benefits of constant interaction and contact with animals. Kids benefit especially from pet animals, and since one may not be able to own one, having a place where they can experience the joys of being a pet owner, even for a short time, can help make the child less aggressive, sharper and a better human being.

While there are innumerable benefits of contact with animals, one needs to be aware if they are allergic to any particular animal. Some people might be prone to allergic reactions to animals such as cats, or animal hair. If so, one must avoid any contact with them, at the risk of fatalities. Apart from that, there is also the risk of transmitting diseases to and from the animals. Hence, it is critical to properly cleanse yourselves before and after coming in contact with them.

Along the lines of petting zoos, cat cafes are now popular in some eastern countries especially Japan. These cafes allow people to interact with cats exclusively at nominal charges. The physiological and psychological benefits of petting cats are well documented, especially among the elderly. The purring sound that they emanate while being petted is deemed to be comforting for most people. Their unassuming, no-fuss temperament is highly appreciated by cat lovers. There is an increasing need of establishments along such lines considering the kind of lifestyle that is becoming common lately. A place where one can rejuvenate among silent, loving, non-judgmental creatures that help you relax without asking for anything in return.

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