Michael Jackson wanted surgeons to make pet chimp Bubbles talk

Michael Jackson spent thousands of dollars trying to get throat specialists to make his chimp Bubbles speak. The singer, who died in June last year aged 50, pestered surgeons for four years for advice on how he could achieve his dream of having a conversation with his primate friend.

His sister La Toya said: "Michael was always wanting to know how to make Bubbles speak and talk. They definitely communicated. One morning Michael called me and said 'You have got to see this - he mimics everything I do.' He wanted to give him vocal chords and asked doctors 'Can I given him an operation so I know what his thoughts are'."



But the plan was dashed because surgeons said Bubbles might not survive the surgery. Bubbles was Jackson's constant companion during the mid-eighties often sharing his bed and even going along on the star's 1987 Bad World tour.

But Jackson had to give the chimp, which is now 26 years old, to a monkey sanctuary in 1988 because he had become too big.