Bubbles was so loved by the King of Pop that he accompanied him during the recording of his albums and on his tours.
At his Neverland ranch, Michael Jackson He even had a private zoo with some animals. Among all the animals there, one of them had a special place in the King of Pop’s heart: Bubblesyour pet chimpanzee.
A few years before his owner’s death on June 25, 2009, the animal became an adult and had to leave the singer’s home. Since then, he has lived in a primate sanctuary.
Still, ties with Michael have not been completely severed. Bubbles receives a considerable amount from the King of Pop’s legal representatives to cover his expenses: US$30,000 (a little over R$165,000).
Bubbles, Michael Jackson’s darling
Bubbles was born in 1983 and it is not possible to say exactly how Michael Jackson became his owner, as the accounts from the sources differ. In any case, the primate initially lived in the Jackson family home until he moved, along with his famous owner, to the Neverland Ranch in 1988.
The chimpanzee was so loved by the artist that he slept in his own crib in the musician’s room. He also sat at the table to eat meals and even used the same bathroom as his “father”.
However, he was also the “terror” of the employees there because he liked to get up to mischief — such as spreading his feces on the walls of the residence.
Shortly before moving to Neverland, the animal was with its owner during the recording of the album Bad (1987) and was present at the filming of the music video for the album’s title track. In addition, he often accompanied Jackson during his travels on the album’s tour. However, he was barred from entering some countries due to quarantine issues.
The “big buck” received to live in a sanctuary
Time passed and Michael Jackson watched his beloved chimpanzee grow up. The star had to say goodbye to Bubbles around 2003. After all, as an adult, he became too big and aggressive to be kept as a pet.
First, he was sent to live with an animal trainer in California, but in 2005, he moved to the Great Ape Center, a sanctuary in Florida.
Since then, the chimpanzee has resided there. For the TMZ, Patti Ragandirector of the sanctuary, said that Bubbles spends his time interacting with the other primates there, exploring tunnels and building nests. Sometimes, he even paints pictures.
In addition to the approximate value of US$ 30 thousand (a little over R$ 165 thousand) per year, the Great Ape Center receives several donations from the singer’s fans exclusively for the chimpanzee. Among the gifts are fruits and blankets so that he can take his naps. The singer’s own family members and legal representatives have the habit of visiting the animal quite frequently.
Although he is well cared for at the sanctuary, it is worth remembering that Bubbles — a “gentleman” at 41 years old — does not have much time left to live. Chimpanzees raised in captivity usually live between 50 and 60 years.
Contributed by: Augusto Ikeda.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
