OCEAN CITY, Md. (AP) - Local officials don't want any monkey business on the Boardwalk.
Chimpanzees "Mike" and "Louie" were denied a piece of prime Boardwalk real estate this week because of fears they might bite the tourists.
A Maryland animal caretaker had asked the town for permission to house two chimpanzees in a Boardwalk photo-set storefront.
In 20-minute shows, the chimps would put on costumes to make them resemble a clown, Elvis, a Hawaiian hula girl and even a snazzy jazz pianist, according to the business plan.
But the bid was sunk by Ocean City officials Tuesday, citing health and public safety concerns, The (Salisbury) Daily Times reported.
"These are wild animals. They may have been captive bred and raised, but they are still wild," Pam Bunting, a police animal control officer, wrote to the Town Council.
"With all the confusion that goes on (on) the Boardwalk - this is not a place to display (chimpanzees) for Human and Animal Safety and Welfare," she wrote.
The Town Council briefly considered and then unanimously rejected the request by Judie Harrison, owner and operator of Monkey Business, a Elkton, Md., company that makes the animals available to television producers for a fee.
Harrison told the council she is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to work with primates.
Greg Harrison, Judie's husband and business partner, says unfounded health and crowd concerns made the town miss the boat.
Bunting had warned the council that large curious crowds around the chimps could interfere with the Boardwalk tram.
"Our opinion, basically, is shame on us for doing something successful," Harrison said. "We wouldn't put them in the public if there was a danger."
The business plan, outlined in detail in materials provided to the Town Council, called for tourists to pose in backdrops with the monkeys, near them but without any contact, for $20 a pop.
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