Of all the Michael Jackson memorabilia Merrick Watts could have spent $10,000 on – a discarded sequin or a used toothbrush perhaps – he and his Nova 969 breakfast cohorts opted to adopt the late superstar’s orphaned chimpanzee.

Jackson owned the much-loved Bubbles for just over five years while the ape (technically, not a monkey) was in its infancy. Bubbles, now 25 years old, was then passed into the care of The Centre of Great Apes – an orangutan and chimpanzee conservation centre based in Wauchula, Florida.

Merrick, on behalf of Nova 969’s Merrick, Dools & Ricki-Lee breakfast show, contacted Patti Ragan at the centre and put up the USD $10,000 (AUD$ 11,300) fee required to adopt Bubbles. But only for one year.

For their money, Merrick, Dools & Ricki-Lee have visitation rights with Bubbles and will also receive a plaque outside his enclosure that officially lists the team as the current guardians for the chimp – making Bubbles the first International Tourist Ambassador to promote the radio show. Sadly it is unlikely that Bubbles or any of his mates will ever get a survey book.

Merrick says “People around the world spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on Michael Jackson memorabilia for simple things like a lock of his hair. For $10,000 we got his chimpanzee – so, we win!

“In all seriousness though, the money we’re spending on adopting Bubbles will go towards his welfare and that of the other chimps at the centre – we’re doing it for love & money.”

The news has made it onto the worldwide blogosphere.  Reader comments on one outlet, Peace FM Online include…

Never heard of them. now they will be better known for the people who adopted Michael Jackson’s pet chimp Bubbles…lol. Michael would be happy.

And

It might be sweet, and yes it is, but that chimp was MICHAELS not RICKI LEES! gosh i hate her so much. i bet she thinks she is so cool coz she has MJS bubbles. they are using bubbles fo publicity for their station. I LOVE U MICHAEL! SO MUCH!