Bubbles the Chimp

On Monday, Laurel wrote about Michael Jackson and his animals. Well, I wondered what had become of the famous Bubbles, the chimp.

Apparently, a lot of people have wondered that since the passing of Michael Jackson. I got an email in my inbox today from PeoplePets.com. They gave us an update about Bubbles!

He is living the life of luxury in a primate sanctuary in Florida. He is now 26 years old and makes his home at the Center for Great Apes. He has lived there since 2005. Jackson intended to visit Bubbles in his home there, but unfortunately, he never made it.

The director of Bubbles' home says that he is a very nice animal. He hangs out with about six other chimps and has one special friend named Sam (a 40 year old chimp).

Chimps can live to be about 60 years old, so Bubbles conceivably has a long life ahead of him. The cost of his care is coming from donations at this point. If interested, you can donate and "adopt" Bubbles!

Can you think of other iconic animals you would like to know what happened to? Chimps have a much longer life-span than other animals. I'm sure we've lost many animal stars without even hearing about it. It was good to hear an update about Bubbles. In the early 80s, I remember being enthralled by the fact that Michael Jackson had a chimp as a pet! (Full story at PeoplePets.com. Photo from Center for Great Apes. You can read more about Bubbles there as well.)

--Tammy

Comments

[Dana]

Tammy, thanks for providing this update about Bubbles. I'm was happy to hear about his good life. I hope that all of his other animals will enjoy the same circumstances. It's a cool idea to make a donation for Bubble's care...what a nice way to memorialize Michael Jackson's death!

[Ingrid]

I'm glad to hear that Bubbles is living a happy life - but his care is coming from donations? Michael Jackson couldn't have donated enough for a lifetime of care for him when he released him to the sanctuary? That's disappointing. I hope his estate will see fit to make a nice hefty donation for Bubbles' care.

[Tammy]

It sounded like the sanctuary was hopeful that some provision would be made for Bubbles care in Jackson's estate. I guess we'll find out at some point if money was left for Bubbles! (or if there was really any money left I guess!)

[Laurel]

I heard Bubbles is one of the reasons Michael was so broke...guess the chimp had a gambling problem and spent a lot of time in Vegas (haha...just kidding...)
I agree with Ingrid. Michael should have set up an endowment for him at the sanctuary. I'm not sure he ever really "owned" Bubbles, but still...

[turtlecookie]

I'm glad to hear Bubbles is alive and well and happy. I haven't been following much of the Michael Jackson stuff, but I hear he was in foreclosure, so who knows if the estate will even have anything left to donate. Michael must have lived large. I hope his kids will be well taken care of. It would have been nice had he set up an endowment for sanctuary, but at least he must have had a realization that he was not up to caring fully for Bubbles and found a good place for him.

Turtlecookie