AR-News: (US CA) Chimp trades art for leisure

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

Cheeta, of ‘Tarzan’ fame, is the world’s oldest living primate, turning 72 
Friday 

By Michelle Woo
The Desert Sun
April 5th, 2004 


PALM SPRINGS -- He has a résumé most Hollywood actors would kill for. 

But Cheeta doesn’t brag. By now, he’s probably over the glitz and glamour 
that comes with stardom. 

Instead, the retired show biz chimpanzee spends lazy afternoons in his Palm 
Springs home, munching on monkey chow and watching the classic Tarzan films 
that made him famous. 

On Friday he turns 72, a remarkable feat, animal experts would say, as 
chimpanzees typically live only 40 to 45 years in the wild and into their mid-50s in 
captivity. 

Cheeta holds the title of oldest living primate in the Guinness Book of World 
Records.

His owner and caretaker Dan Westfall isn’t surprised. He says Cheeta’s 
longevity is merely a result of "good food and love." 




full story:

http://www.thedesertsun.com/news/stories2004/features/20040405004000.shtml 
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