26 Year Old Bubbles Is Doing Well
 Wednesday, July 2nd, 2009  by Connie T.

In 1985, Michael Jackson adopted Bubbles, a then 3-year-old chimpanzee that Jackson rescued from a research clinic that tested on animals. Michael and Bubbles grew so close that Bubbles was present in the studio for the recording of the Bad album, and there was a stuffed toy version of Bubbles the chimp in the Michael's Pets collection--which Michael arranged for $1 per sale to go to a children's charity. Jackson even taught Bubbles how to do the moonwalk.

But in Martin Bashir's 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Michael told Bashir that Bubbles had become overly aggressive, and was moved from Neverland to an animal sanctuary due to the risk he posed to Jackson's newborn son, Prince Michael II.

Jackson is reported to have regularly visited Bubbles over the years, though, and his animal trainer Bob Dunn told News of the World, "Bubbles definitely missed him when they parted and will miss him now. Chimpanzees are intelligent. They remember people...Bubbles an Michael were close friends and playmates. The last time Michael visited, Bubbles definitely recognized and remembered him."

Dunn also said that Michael thought of Bubbles as his "first child" and brought his three children to see him. People Mag found that Bubbles is alive, well, and playful at a Florida primate sanctuary, Center For Great Apes now, where he's been for the past four years. The sanctuary director said he is "very sweet and nice," and lets younger animals go ahead of him at the water fountain. Bubbles likes yams, flute and guitar music, an hanging out with his longtime buddy and trainer Sam, climbing groves and watching traffic.

While Bubbles can live to be up to 60 years old, his care has been financed entirely from public donations.


Can you help out? The sanctuary is home to forty-two chimpanzees and orangutans who have been retired from the entertainment industry, from research, or who are no longer wanted as pets; they are treated with care and dignity in a safe, healthy, enriching environment and need lifetime care.

Please consider making a donation. If you are unable to assist financially, the center also has a wishlist of items that the animals need, such as heavy plastic toys (Little Tykes, for example), peanut butter, plastic tubs or storage bins, plastic hard hats, paintbrushes and canvases, baby food, fleece blankets, rubber boots, honey, pasta, and much more that we can pretty much guarantee you have at least one of lying around without getting much use.

They are also accepting applications for interns, volunteers, and paid employees.

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