JOHANNESBURG (AP) - An American researcher mauled by chimpanzees in South Africa has been identified as a graduate student in Texas studying anthropology.

Andrew Oberle was in critical condition Friday after undergoing surgery near Johannesburg. Officials say the 26-year-old was giving a lecture Thursday at the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden when two chimpanzees grabbed his feet and pulled him under a fence.

Oberle is a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The school said in a statement Friday "Our hearts go out to Andrew and his family."

Officials in South Africa say Oberle had "multiple and severe bite wounds" and was dragged nearly half a mile by the chimpanzees.

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