Michael Jackson acquired his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles, in the 1980s<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
When Bubbles became too “pugnacious,” he went to live with animal trainer Bob Dunn<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Bubbles now resides at the Center for Great Apes in Florida<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Michael Jackson<\/a> owned several exotic animals<\/a> \u2014 but none captured his heart quite like Bubbles the chimpanzee.<\/p>\n Bubbles first entered Jackson’s life in the mid ’80s, when animal trainer Bob Dunn helped acquire him from a Texas research facility. Still just a baby at the time, Bubbles quickly became a constant companion to the King of Pop, living alongside him at his homes and joining him on travels around the world.<\/p>\n But as Bubbles grew older, his size and strength made it increasingly difficult \u2014 and unsafe \u2014 for him to remain in a domestic environment. Eventually, he was relocated to live permanently with Dunn, though Jackson continued to visit him.<\/p>\n \u201cBubbles definitely missed him when they parted,\u201d Dunn said, per The Telegraph<\/a>. \u201cThe last time Michael visited, Bubbles definitely recognized and remembered him.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2005, Bubbles made another transition \u2014 this time to the Center for Great Apes<\/a> in Florida.<\/p>\n So, where is Bubbles now? Here’s everything to know about where Michael Jackson’s famous chimpanzee is today.<\/p>\n Bubbles was born in 1983 Bubbles. Bubbles was\u00a0born at a biomedical research facility in Austin, Texas, in 1983, and was still an infant when Dunn acquired him for Jackson, per the Center for Great Apes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Dunn later said the King of Pop viewed Bubbles as his \u201cfirst child,\u201d describing the pair as \u201cclose friends and playmates,\u201d per The Telegraph.<\/p>\n Bubbles lived with Michael Jackson for many years Bubbles and Michael Jackson in Japan in 1987. Bubbles spent his early years at the singer’s Encino, Calif., home before moving with him to Neverland Ranch in 1988<\/a>, where he was often kept close \u2014 even sleeping in Jackson’s bedroom.<\/p>\n As Jackson’s fame soared, so did Bubbles’. The chimpanzee was a constant presence by his side \u2014 popping up on music video sets, at press events and even on a 1987 promotional tour in Japan, where he charmed fans at just 4 years old.<\/p>\n But as Bubbles matured, he became too strong and unpredictable to remain a household pet, with Jackson calling him “pugnacious” in the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson. Bubbles eventually moved out of Jackson’s care and was placed with Dunn.<\/p>\n Bubbles met several celebrities Bubbles in 1988. During Bubbles’ time with Jackson, the famous chimpanzee had his fair share of celebrity run-ins.<\/p>\n In August 2017, Riley Keough<\/a>, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley<\/a>, recalled meeting Bubbles as a child during an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201c[Bubbles] was great. There were a few different chimps that I remember,” she said. “I don’t remember which one is which. I remember one pulling on my curtains in my house, and then one went to school with me one time, which was pretty cool.”<\/p>\n In April 2024, Jon Bon Jovi<\/a> told Jimmy Kimmel<\/a> that he once partied with Bubbles<\/a> in a Tokyo hotel room, adding that the chimp was “jumping on the bed” and “putting on a show.”<\/p>\n Not all encounters were as fond. Rashida Jones<\/a> was once bitten by Bubbles<\/a> while visiting Jackson with her father, Quincy Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n “[Bubbles] was a pain in the ass. He bit Rashida. My poor baby,” Quincy recalled to GQ<\/a> in January 2018. “I was angry.”<\/p>\n Where is Bubbles now? Bubbles at the Center for Great Apes. Bubbles now lives at the Center for Great Apes, a sanctuary in Wauchula, Fla. He moved there in 2005 after his longtime caretaker, Dunn, retired from animal training.<\/p>\n In June 2009, director Patti Ragan told PEOPLE that Bubbles’ favorite activities included eating sweet potatoes, listening to flute-and-guitar music and painting. In fact, in July 2017, Bubbles starred in an \u201cApes that Paint<\/a>\u201d art show and fundraiser for the center.<\/p>\n![\"Bubbles.Credit:](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/746e5f2654cf4e170ee2acec10f7357a.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Jim Smeal\/Ron Galella Collection via Getty<\/p>\n![\"Bubbles](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2901718d53dd2117148d8b5074c5a48f.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Sankei Archive via Getty<\/p>\n![\"Bubbles](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/df5870299ade02cd9d1fcf02cca65dc7.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Michelson\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n![\"Bubbles](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/cbb44d5a9d56f09a08dea744461becef.jpeg\"\/)
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Credit: Center for Great Apes\/Facebook<\/p>\n