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Tarzan's 'Cheeta' in Guinness
« on: Apr 13th, 2003, 3:28pm » |
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Tarzan's 'Cheeta' in Guinness
PALM SPRINGS, California (AP) -- Cheeta lives in this desert resort town like a lot of old movie stars, painting, playing the piano and watching his old movies. But as one of Palm Springs' only retired chimpanzees, he stands out.
The last actor to have played the lead chimpanzee role in the Tarzan movies of the 1930s and '40s, Cheeta is 71 now -- the oldest chimp in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.
"He's just part of the family," said Dan Westfall, who saved Cheeta's life when he adopted him from Tony Gentry, an animal trainer who worked in Hollywood.
Gentry, Westfall's uncle, originally left instructions in his will to have Cheeta euthanized after his death because he worried that the 142-pound chimp would wind up in a research lab. His nephew talked him out of that by promising he'd always take care of Cheeta.
Westfall and Abe Karajerjian care for Cheeta and other animals, including orangutans and monkeys, at a house they have nicknamed Casa de Cheeta.
Cheeta spends his time playing with preschool toys, thumbing through magazines including National Geographic and playing the piano. In addition to his old movies, he likes watching Animal Planet and cartoons on television.
Cheeta's handlers hope to sell some of his paintings -- which they describe as "Ape-Stract" -- to raise money for a sanctuary for homeless primates.
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