Michael Jackson’s chimp Bubbles turns 40 with party years after leaving Neverland fame

There may be no primate on Earth more popular than Michael Jackson’s former pet chimp, Bubbles.

In the 1980s, the young ape was living a life of glitz and glam with the king of pop in Neverland.

But fast-forward four decades, and Bubbles has just turned 40 years old and has swapped travelling on jets and appearing on TV for a well-earned retirement.

READ MORE: Where Michael Jackson’s chimp Bubbles is now – ‘suicide attempt’ to ‘tragic abuse’

His new home, the Centre for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, put on a bubble-themed party to celebrate’s Bubbles’ big day, with food, friends and even some lady apes.

The centre wrote on Instagram: “40 and FABULOUS! Chimpanzee Bubbles turned 40 this month and had a bubble-themed party today with his friends Oopsie, Boma, Jessie, and Ripley!”

While some of the chimps were busy monkeying around, ever the socialite, Bubbles was busy welcoming guests to his birthday bash.

Despite being “very difficult to photograph” and camera-shy, he even took a selfie to remember the momentous occasion.

They continued: “The girls were focused on the food treats, but Bubbles was more interested in greeting visitors and looking at all the decorations.”

Despite the landmark birthday, Bubbles’ keepers will be hoping for plenty more, with chimps in captivity expected to life for between 40 to 60 years.

Born in 1983, in a research centre in Austin, Texas, Bubbles was bought by Jackson from a Hollywood trainer for a princely sum of $65,000 (£57,000) at the age of three.

The pair quickly became pals, and were soon joined at the hip, moonwalking across the globe.

Bubbles was no ordinary chimp, living a high-octane and glamorous life in the spotlight which once even saw him don a tux for the 1994 MTV Movie Awards.

He was said to even have his own agent and bodyguard.

The chimp moved from Jackson’s LA family home to Neverland in 1988, where he slept in a cot next to his owner’s bed.

While mostly good as gold, he was known to be a bit mischievous and fling his dung around the mansion.

While the ape appeared to live a life of luxury on the outside, disturbing reports emerged that he was beaten to be “disciplined”.

Leading primatologist Jane Goodall claimed that Bubbles had been punched in the face and kicked in the midriff while under the care of Jackson.

She told TMZ: “Bubbles is still alive and he’s beautiful. But when he was with Michael he was being beaten.”

By the time the great ape turned 20, he weighed a whopping 75kg and grew too large and aggressive for Jackson to look after – with the pop star concerned he’d attack his newborn son.

Bubbles was initially relocated to a ranch in California, ran by Bob Dunn, who told CNN: “Bubbles is an adult chimp and a wild animal… We don’t let him out to play.”

He “definitely missed” Jackson throughout his short stay at the ranch, Dunn said, adding that “chimpanzees are intelligent”.

He said: “They remember people and stuff. Bubbles and Michael were close friends and playmates.”

But in March 2005, Bubbles finally left the ranch to find his forever home.

He left behind his life with Jackson and Neverland to join the centre, along with a pack of A-lister primates all from the world of entertainment.

The centre houses Bubbles and his best pals like Oopsie, Murray, Mowgli and Bo, in a 100-acre space where the apes are able to roam freely.

These days, he likes to spend his time painting and listen to flute music.

And, unsurprisingly, he looks a lot different. Staff at the sanctuary have described him as “huge and ugly” but add that he has a very “sweet character”.

The chimp, who was “like a son” to Jackson, costs $25,000 (£20,000) a year to keep – with the deceased star’s estate continuing to support the sanctuary for his care.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk