Cheeta the chimpanzee starred in 12 Tarzan movies in the 30s and 40s and is still kicking as the oldest known chimp at the age of 75. Chimps typically live to about 50. Cheeta is enjoying his retirement in a plush animal sanctuary for retired primate actors and lab primates in Palm Springs, California. His hobbies include painting abstract or “ape-stract” art, socializing with the other primates, playing the piano and watching television. He loves looking at pictures of other animals and watching Animal Planet and cartoon shows on television. Cheeta’s art was shown in a special exhibition at the National Gallery in London and is often given as a “thank you” gift to donors to his primate center. An original painting by the famous primate can also be purchased for a tax-deductible sum of $125.

Cheeta outlived his Tarzan co-stars Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan as well as his first handler who found him in Africa in the 30s. He even walked in the funeral procession for Weissmuller in 1984. Cheeta is now cared for by his first owner’s nephew, who adopted him 10 years ago. Cheeta’s new caregiver convinced his uncle not to request in his will that the long-living chimp be put to sleep when he died.

While Cheeta used to enjoy a few beers a day and the occasional cigar, he now eats healthy with a diet of fresh fruit, vegetables and monkey chow. He was diagnosed with diabetes seven years ago, and had diet soda and sugar free cake at his birthday party on Tuesday. Cheeta’s 18 year-old grandson, Jeeter, also lives at the primate center after a career as a nightclub and circus performer.

Here is Cheeta at home at the Creative Habitats and Enrichment for Endangered and Threatened Apes Sanctuary including pictures of his birthday celebration and art. Thanks to Digg readers for alerting me to the story on Animateca of his record-setting birthday .

Update 2/20/09: Allegations have surfaced that Cheeta is not the same chimp as the one featured in early Tarzan films and that he’s around 30 years younger than his owner claims.

News sources: Animateca, National Geographic, CHEETA primate sanctuary, Daily Mail, WTOP News, and Notelay
Picture sources: Animateca, CHEETA primate sanctuary, TailsofJoy, NPR, and Daily Mail.

I know that’s a ridiculous amount of sources for a brief article on an elderly chimp, but I thought this story was cute and wanted to add more details on his life.