In 1995, New York Magazine reports, Sandra and Jerome Herold paid a Missouri-based breeder $50,000 in exchange for Travis the chimpanzee, raising him from infancy. Travis developed human qualities under their care. According to the same outlet, he got dressed every day, brushed his teeth, enjoyed ice cream and wine, and slept in bed with the couple. Similar to Gordy in "Nope," Travis was a bit of a celebrity. He was known for appearing in Old Navy ads and local businesses proudly displayed photographs of him, according to the Stamford Advocate.
However, there were warning signs that Travis might not be the obedient pet he seemed. The Stamford Advocate also reports that the chimpanzee pulled a woman's arm through the opened window of a parked car in 1996, biting her hard enough to draw blood. In 2003, he jumped out of the Harolds' car at an intersection, evading police and his owners for two hours, though no charges were pressed, per New York Magazine. Much like Gordy, Travis existed in a world where he was the center of attention.
A recurring motif in "Nope" is the dedication and respect it takes to develop a connection with a wild animal. Assuming obedience is a recipe for disaster, a mistake Jupe makes at the cost of his life. In Travis' case, his perceived domesticity did nothing to stop the inevitable.
