Chimp Controversy: Caregiver Speaks Out

As fans of Cheetah the chimp prepare to say goodbye to the Tarzan movie star, a longtime volunteer and caregiver at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary is speaking out in response to reports that questioned if Cheetah was really in his 80's when he died. Ron Priest, who is a retired engineer, says proof of Cheetah's age was inside the chimp's mouth.

The following is a statement that Ron Priest sent to Palm Harbor Patch.

"After monitoring posts about my departed 'friend' Cheetah. And especially after reading the skeptics about his origin. I have felt a need to respond with a little perspective on Cheetah that might add a bit of legitimacy to his origin. 

On the question of his age, I have looked into his mouth on a couple of occasions while he was sedated to have infected teeth pulled and he had fewer teeth, than the other chimps that I have known, and that I deal with as a seven-year volunteer at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary. 

In fact, of Cheetah's head with a blue barrel in the background, which has now circled the globe a few times, and has landed on Reuters as if it is their picture, one can see the lack of bottom teeth. 

I assure you his uppers were also in bad shape, he was monitored regularly by animal and people doctors for the condition of his teeth."

-Ron Priest