Michael Jackson's Animals: Where Are They Now?

Michael Jackson has left behind more than just his family and friends behind. The King of Pop also had an entourage of animals that he kept at his private zoo at Neverland Ranch -- an over 1,000 hectare space in California.

So what is the fate of these animals that include the famous chimp Bubbles, giraffes, birds, snakes and other exotic pets?

According to most reports, nearly all of the animals have already been moved to new homes in the past few years as Jackson's financial troubles increased.

Jackson's most well-known pet Bubbles (who is said to have learned the moonwalk and shared hotel and bedroom space with Jackson), who the singer adopted from a cancer research laboratory in 1985 is currently at the Center for Great Apes in Wauchulu, Fla.

Apparently, the now 26-year-old chimp is even about to sign a book deal and a make a movie debut of his own.

Jackson's two tigers, Thriller and Sabu, are at Shambala, the wild-animal preserve in Arizona, run by Melanie Griffith's mother, actress Tippi Hedren.

Rikki, his favorite bird, and his four giraffes all live at the The Voices of the Wild Foundation in Page, Ariz.

The foundation also acquired several of Jackson's other animals when the remaining Neverland animals were sent off the ranch in 2007.

Most of the animals, however, have not been informed of the singer's death, the reports add.

Comments

[LMPE]

03:24 PM on 07/08/2009

I have a feeling that Thriller and Sabu are going to get treated the best. In fact, Tippi Hedren is probably going to treat them better than Michael Jackson ever treated himself.

[SimJack]

10:15 PM on 07/07/2009

Bubbles was used as a body double for GW any time there was a common man meeting op. Since leaving office, he's taken up with cheap bourbon, two dollar bonobos and chasing illegal old world immigrant apes with his tribe on moonless nights deep in the heart of Texas. Er, maybe I got the two confused, that's how good they were. Maybe it's better not to know.

[Economike]

08:44 PM on 07/07/2009

He got lucky with that chimp as every reader of TC Boyle must imagine.

[LiberalHick]

07:38 PM on 07/07/2009

Holy c*ap! Tippi Hedron is Melanie Griffith's mother???

[Pema]

06:29 PM on 07/07/2009

MJ abanonded those animals after the trial, the county ahd to be calle din due to neglect and starvation of the animals, he didnt give one wit about those poor things, they were "props".

[Judyisacutie]

07:48 PM on 07/07/2009

And your source is? You sound ridiculous. MJ had animal handlers. He wasn't out there feeding them himself you twit.

[Solomon Kane]

09:07 PM on 07/07/2009

My sentiments exactly. Thank you Judy and you are a cutie.

[bunnyv]

11:14 PM on 07/07/2009

The news. I remember that as well at the time after his trial, as well as reports a year or so ago that his animals weren't being cared for properly and whoever was dealing with it (see; not MJ) was trying to find homes for the animals (as reported above). No I am not finding links for you. That is what google news archive is for.

[BlueBoomer]

05:46 PM on 07/07/2009

That pix of MJ is him at his very best...too bad his plastic surgeon didn't have the ethics to stop there...

HE'S the one that should be investigated for doing such damage to MJ's body that he felt the need for all those Rx drugs.

[WestofSabine]

05:42 PM on 07/07/2009

Fried, baked, sauteed with onions and garlic, roasted with new potatoes and carrots, all for a good cause.

[DBtv]

06:25 PM on 07/07/2009

Carnivores su ck.

[lbrty 2112]

06:54 PM on 07/07/2009

Vegans: 6 times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage

That's why we have 'eye' teeth. Humans are Omnivores.

Cope and pass the bacon please.

[daedelus]

06:30 PM on 07/07/2009

I heard one of his horses made a movie with your wife.

[killmenow]

06:43 PM on 07/07/2009

Good one.

[lbrty 2112]

06:55 PM on 07/07/2009

WOW! how did that one slip through and I can't even make fun of K. Olberzipper?

[superjules]

05:19 PM on 07/07/2009

Please, let's just move on already.

[lvogt]

04:46 PM on 07/07/2009

OMG... STOP!

[smca]

04:43 PM on 07/07/2009

Shambala is not in Arizona but rather just north of Los Angeles, California.

[dozaa]

04:41 PM on 07/07/2009

His TIGERS are at SHAMBALA (run by Tippi Hendren)

They were NOT LEFT with an ENDOWMENT. This means she has to raise money to care for them - if you are afan send her a donation. Its tax deductible.

shambala.org