Videos of the weirdest and wildest pets
Jul 2, 2009 6:09 pm US/Eastern
Jackson's 'Best Bud' Bubbles Retired In Florida
WAUCHULA, FL (CBS4) ―
A week after the death of Michael Jackson we're learning more about his will and who he chose to look after his children.
As more and more details emerge concerning the singer's last days, some have wondered about constant companion to Jackson before his child and even before his wives.
Whatever happened to Bubbles the chimp?
Back in the day, next to Cheetah from the Tarzan movies, Bubbles was probably the second most chimpanzee in the world.
"Probably the best tribute that we could pay to Michael Jackson here is to just take excellent care of Bubbles because I know he loved Bubbles," said Patti Ragan, director of the Center for great Apes.
Bubbles has lived at the non-profit sanctuary, located outside of Wauchula in central Florida, for the last four years.
More than 40 chimpanzees and orangutans call the sanctuary home, all were circus performers, pets or in the movies.
"They relax, they take naps together. They might go up in the top of the cupolo. They go out in the chutes and lie under a tree in the tunnel system. They groom each other and they fight and they have arguments," said Ragan.
Bubbles was born in Texas in 1983. At about eight months old, animal trainer Bobb Dunn purchased the chimp for Jackson. For the next several years, Michael and Bubbles were inseparable. Eventually, Bubbles got to big and he was returned to Dunn who kept him until about four years ago.
Ragan says that Jackson couldn't keep him is a perfect example as to why people should never consider chimps as pets.
"This was one of the most successful and wealthy individuals at the time he had Bubbles, and it was not even appropriate for him to keep Bubbles after a certain age," said Ragan.
Ragan said Jackson never came to visit Bubbles once he arrived at the sanctuary, but if he had he may have been surprised by his 'old friend's' reaction.
"Most of our chimps recognize their former owners and they get very excited to see them and I am sure he would have recognized him," said Ragan.
Who knows – they may have even moonwalked one last time together.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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