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MJ's Animals Won't Flock Back to Neverland

Posted Jun 30th 2009 3:16PM by TMZ Staff

If Neverland Ranch is turned into a memorial site for Michael Jackson, don't expect MJ's once beloved animals to make a triumphant return.

Michael Jackson Neverland Ranch Click to view!

We spoke to Tippi Hedren -- who runs the Shambala Preserve in California where MJ's former tigers (Thriller and Sabu) live -- and she said, "The animals will not be going back ... they're staying with me at the sanctuary."

We also talked to Freddie Hancock -- the owner of the Voices of the Wild Foundation in Arizona which houses MJ's giraffes, birds and reptiles -- and she told us, "These animals have become a part of our lives as they were a part of Michael's ... [the return to Neverland] would depend on a variety of circumstances."

Tags: animals, michael jackson, michael jackson death, MichaelJackson, MichaelJacksonDeath, neverland ranch, NeverlandRanch, photos

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31. For ALL of you who keep asking where Bubbles is:

Posted June 26, 2009

Sadly, Jackson had to move Bubbles out of his house in fear the chimp might hurt his children. Bubbles is still alive and living on a ranch in California with an animal trainer.

One of the more interesting relationships Michael Jackson had during his life was not with his famous sister, his movie star friends or other musicians, but with a tiny furry friend named Bubbles. Jackson rescued the three-year-old chimpanzee from a cancer research clinic and kept him on as a pet and friend. Bubbles famously made a cameo in the video for “Liberian Girl” and accompanied Jackson during the recording sessions for Bad. He made occasional appearances in public but generally kept to Jackson’s home.

However, he did accompany Michael on a tour of Japan in 1989. In this clip, it’s evident that the Bubbles is thought of as an almost-human companion (he has his own chair and is fully dressed), but also understands Jackson’s sign language.

Posted at 4:53PM on Jun 30th 2009 by BabyGirl

32. With all the discussion surrounding the shocking death of Michael Jackson, people have wondered whatever happened to his beloved chimpanzee Bubbles. It turns out, the chimp is alive and well and monkeying around in a Florida primate sanctuary, PEOPLE has learned.

The 26-year old chimp, who lived with Jackson in the late 1980s, has spent the past four years at the Center For Great Apes, home to forty-two chimpanzees and orangutans.

Posted at 4:56PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Kid Rock Fan

33. You can read all about Bubles here. He's alive and 26 years old...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbles_(chimpanzee)

-Steve

Posted at 4:57PM on Jun 30th 2009 by MJFan4LIFE

34. Just wanted to say that if you dont know that Michaels children are not his biological kids then your not been staying on top of this story ! thats a bombshell you will see coming in the next few days , to me i was obvious , do i get like a free a bonus check or something ? ther are no blood ties !


Rick

Posted at 10:11PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Rick

35. "would depend on a variety of circumstances"

Allow me to spell this out.... DEAD PRESIDENTS FOR THE DEAD POP SINGERS FORMER ANIMALS

YA GOT IT PEOPLE ?

GOT IT

GET IT

GOOOD

HEE HEE ~ JAMM ON !

Posted at 5:01PM on Jun 30th 2009 by jrad247

36. Just wanted to say that if you dont know this Michaels children are not his biological kids then your not been staying on top of this story ! this is a bombshell you will see coming in the next few days , to me it was obvious from the start ,so do i get like a a bonus check or something ? there are no blood ties !


Rick

Posted at 10:11PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Rick

37. megan, no one cares bout dat dumb brod heidi, they r wannabe celebrities!! n all of u guys need to stop disrespecting MJ, he is gone now n let him rest in peace to all u haters

Posted at 5:08PM on Jun 30th 2009 by ali

38. I have been to the Neverland Ranch before; I have a friend who is good friends with the family. Have to say one of the most surreal things I have ever done. Clearly seeing the property there was a sense of sadness, that a man had to build a fantasy world to this extreme. Was very disturbing, Michael clearly suffered from "Peter Pan Syndrome". R.I.P. Mj

Posted at 6:10PM on Jun 30th 2009 by tloc

39. REALLY GAY!

Posted at 5:14PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Harvey Lee Roth

40. Rick - you have to be one of the most insightful commenters on here -- and that says a lot. I'm sure your bonus check is on the way, along with every other person who has posted such intelligent and informed commentary about the death of a revolutionary cultural icon. Let me know how you make and I hope you spend some of the money from your check spreading the wise words of Rick and opening our eyes to the infinite knowledge you surley have.

Posted at 7:32PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Wendy

41. Our local news station, KLTV in Tyler,TX, did a story on last nights news that Michael Jackson's ex-tigers (Sabu and Thriller) are here locally. Someone is lying to get some attention!!

Read the article and watch the clip here...
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10614576

Posted at 5:44PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Jayme

42. sooooo, jackson loved animals too. does that mean he was an animal molester? RIP, MJ.

Posted at 5:42PM on Jun 30th 2009 by nahnah

43. Who is going to get custody of little Corey Feldman?

Posted at 5:43PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Corey Feldman still needs attention or he will die!

44. The animals in East Texas were taken back 8 months after he got them back in 98 or 99.... needless to say he got a second set of tigers, and like George Foreman isn't very creative with the name.

Posted at 5:53PM on Jun 30th 2009 by Jessica

45. Oh my Lord. How far is this madness going to go?!

Posted at 5:57PM on Jun 30th 2009 by susan

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