By Saloni Mathur
THESE REAL life Bubble Chimps would give Michael Jackson’s favourite ape companion “Bubbles” a run for his money by blowing soap bubbles from their MOUTHS.
These breathtaking images show adult and baby chimpanzees having a gala time playing with soap bubbles in Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in West Africa.
Founded in 1995 by conservationist Bala Amarasekaran and his wife Sharmila, the sanctuary initially enforced wildlife laws and rescued and rehabilitated critically endangered orphaned Western chimpanzees.
Now, Tacugama has grown into a diverse conservation organisation.
The soap used for the bubbles was non-toxic and could be ingested, it was safe for them to play with.
Bubbles is a captive chimpanzee once owned by the late legend Michael Jackson, who since the singer-songwriter’s death has been cared for by The Center for Great Apes sancuary in Florida.
These eye-popping images were captured by Renato Granieri, an Italian professional photographer living in London.
“I’ve been supporting Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Freetown, Sierra Leone, for a number of years,” he said.
“This is the only rescue sanctuary for West African chimpanzees in Sierra Leone.
“When I visit, I organise enrichment activities for the resident chimps.
“These activities are purely and exclusively to stimulate the resident chimps mentally and physically.
“This is not for entertainment or tourist pleasure. I normally contact established sanctuaries in the US and UK to collect information about which activities are considered safe and suitable.
“So, I bought a soap bubble gun for kids. Chimpanzees are great apes like humans, and different chimps react in different ways to different stimulation.
“Juveniles tend to enjoy the bubbles more than the adults.
“They competed to grab the biggest and best/most colourful bubbles, catching them either with their mouth (they have lots of receptors in their mouth) or hands, resembling, in my view, human behaviour.”
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