The 26-year-old chimpanzee, once Jacko’s constant companion, is enjoying his retirement in a special sanctuary in Florida.

Bosses at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida, allowed TV cameras to film Bubbles to prove he was still alive – and to dispel many of the wild rumours about his fate.

And staff say since Jackson’s death, they feel an even stronger desire to spoil arguably the world’s most famous chimpanzee.

“Probably the best tribute we can pay Michael Jackson here is just to take excellent care of Bubbles because I know he loved Bubbles,” said the center’s director, Patti Ragan.

Bubbles, born in 1983, famously travelled everywhere – and did everything – with his superstar owner. But Jacko eventually had to give him up when he became too big and too strong to safely remain a domestic ‘pet’.

Bubbles has been at the Center for Great Apes for the last four years – but sadly never got a visit from his former owner.

“Most of our chimps recognise their former owners and get excited to see them,” said Ragan, who added that most of the chimps there were also connected to the entertainment industry.

“I’m pretty sure Bubbles would have got excited” had Jacko ever visited, she added.
Source: Splash News