Chimp attack victim moved to Johannesburg

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NELSPRUIT, South Africa, July 5 (UPI) -- The Texas graduate student mauled by chimpanzees at an animal preserve was moved to a Johannesburg, South Africa, hospital Thursday, authorities said.

Andrew Oberle, 26, an anthropology student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, was working at the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden in Nelspruit, South Africa, when he was attacked Jun. 28 after stepping into a restricted area. He departed Mediclinic Nelspruit to travel to Millpark Hospital in Johannesburg with his parents, ABC News reported Thursday.

The decision to move Oberle to better care was made by his mother and father, from Missouri and Florida respectively, who traveled to South Africa Monday to consult with their son's doctors.

"His parents are, well, quite traumatized. They have requested privacy," said Mediclinic hospital spokeswoman Robyn Baard.

Initial reports of the attack said Oberle suffered a broken arm, muscle and ligament damage and a loss of fingers on both hands, ABC News said.