CJ the chimp headed for Oregon sanctuary
She's gone.
CJ the escape artist chimp officially left for Oregon on Tuesday and was in transit on Wednesday, owner Timmi DeRosa said. CJ was riding in a transport cage in the back of a conversion van driven by an official from the sanctuary Chimps, Inc., and by DeRosa's fiancée, Lee Watkinson.
The van was scheduled to stop just before the Oregon border and wait until CJ's tuberculosis test results came back, DeRosa said. After she was cleared, her journey was to resume. She was expected to arrive at the sanctuary later today .
Once she reaches her new home, CJ, also known as Calamity Jane, will be quarantined and evaluated by a chimpanzee expert.
CJ escaped for the second time Saturday afternoon before being tranquilized by officers. It was a happier ending than her first escape July 12, when CJ and partner Buddy escaped from their backyard enclosure at 5720 Rowland Ave., near Ann Road and Jones Boulevard.
A Las Vegas police officer shot and killed Buddy as he "aggressively approached" a group of onlookers, according to police. CJ later was tranquilized.
After the second escape, DeRosa received a misdemeanor citation from Animal Control officers Saturday for housing a dangerous animal without a permit and for an animal running loose. The charges carry a fine up to $1,000 and six months in jail. She is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 25.
The first escape prompted Clark County commissioners to pursue tighter regulations for owning exotic animals.
Changes will include verifying the education and expertise of someone wanting to own exotic animals, requiring animal control officers to conduct annual inspections and requesting input from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on applications for exotic pets.
Chimps, Inc. is based in Bend, Ore., and is accepting donations for CJ's care on its website. DeRosa hoped Las Vegans would pitch in.
"She's a Las Vegas girl and I hope people remember that," she said.
