Memorial Saturday for Tarzan Chimp "Cheetah"

This Saturday, Cheetah the chimp's fans will be able to gather to remember him during a special public remembrance ceremony organized by the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, where Cheetah lived for most of his life.

The former star of 1930s Tarzan movies died of kidney failure on Christmas Eve. He was 82 years-old and had lived at the sanctuary since the 1960s.

Debbie Cobb, Outreach Coordinator at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary says the sanctuary decided to hold the memorial after realizing that Cheetah had touched so many lives. The non-profit organization received an outpouring of condolences after Cheetah's death was announced.

"It shows how one animal can make a difference in a person's life," said Cobb.

The remembrance ceremony will be held at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31. Admission will be free. The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is located at 4600 Alt 19 (727) 943-5897. More details about the remembrance ceremony will be posted in the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary website.

The sanctuary has also set up a special web page for people to write their memories about Cheetah. Fans from all over the world have left hundreds of messages on the site, many of the messages are in other languages.

craig wilson, atlanta said:

in 1966, Mr Weismuller and Cheetah were in Kalamazoo MI for some sort of personal appearance at a Holiday Inn where I happened to be bartending. I remember Cheetah coming around, behind the bar... tapping me on the leg, requesting a drink... and not just any drink, he wanted only orange juice... a little later Mr Weismuller came 'round and quietly told me "Cheetah likes just a little gin in the juice." We became great friends for the day.

deg said:

Cheetah will indeed be missed. He had a beyond-good run though, and showed us all how to live life to the fullest. May you always swing from the fun-vine, Cheetah and have all the bananas you can eat! peace & bananas 

Lisa Hopkins Baker said:

I've not had the privilege of visiting the sanctuary, but I do have fond memories of cuddling up on the couch with my dad when I was a little girl watching Tarzan movies with this sweet chimpanzee. It comforts me in knowing that your sanctuary employs such caring humans to spend quality time and treating these beautiful creatures with the love and respect that they so deserve.

Jon Jaffin said:

My Dad was Johnny Weismueller's good friend and Dentist. I still watch the.movies whenever they are on TCM and I always had a special thing for Cheetah as I laughed out loud as a child and still so today. Here's lookin at you pal.

Geneva Johnson said:

My uncle,working as an extra at Paramount, introduced me,6-9 yrs old, to Charlton Heston & Cheetah at the same time on the studio lot. The winner was---CHEETAH!!! This memory will stay with me for my lifetime. He was So Cute and Nice and Funny.

-Other Stories You Might Like-

Cheetah wrote about his life at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in his blog on Palm Harbor Patch. You can read Cheetah's blogs here: