Discuss: Lunch with Cheeta

That’s a wonderful photo of Cheeta, but you might want to add that this “Cheeta” has never been in a movie, nor really had much a show business life.

The Washington Post did a good article on this Cheeta, including the controversy of his name and identity.

Shelley—The sidebar on the website includes a link to a Los Angeles Times story that reprises the Washington Post piece, which does indeed raise some interesting questions.
Hal Clifford
Executive Editor, Orion

I noticed the sidebar link after I wrote my comment. However, hoping that people read the sidebar links is not the same as incorporating the information in the article.

One other thing: anyone that would enter the room with an adult chimp based on the say so of a person who “believes” they have control over the chimp, is not exercising good judgment. There’s a reason why chimps in movies are juveniles, and its not just because they’re cute.

I heard about Cheeta during an NPR story where he was described as the old Cheeta from the B&W Tarzan movies. While working on the text for the Orion article, Dan Westfall, Cheeta’s caregiver, told me he was no longer sure which movies his Cheeta had actually been in, nor was he completely sure of his age. He updated the C.H.E.E.T.A. sanctuary website to reflect these new findings.

Subsequently an article was published in the Washington Post by R.D. Rosen, who had been working with Dan as a ghostwriter on a Cheeta biography. When the book deal fell through, because so many questions about Cheeta’s past had arisen, Rosen’s article “Lie of the Jungle” was published.

Dan - as he has always done around April 9th, put on a birthday party for Cheeta- despite the controversy. He invited the media, hoping to have an opportunity to tell his side of the story: that he had always believed his uncle’s account of Cheeta’s history, but after research (which he had instigated), much of Cheeta’s history was called into question. He was no longer sure which movies Cheeta had been in or how old he was.

During the birthday party, which was attended by Johnny Weissmuller’s widow (Johnny Weissmuller’s is the actor who played Tarzan in the B&W Tarzan movies) - everyone seemed to agree that this Cheeta was an ambassador. They did not care that his exact age had come under question.

After Cheeta ate his cake - a special cake for diabetics, Dan stood behind him and stated that Cheeta’s mother had been killed and Cheeta had been captured, brought to the US, and forced into show business as a child - so we could be entertained. Dan expressed his wish that the entertainment industry put a stop to the practice of using live chimpanzees.

Dan has always shown love, devotion and a healthy respect for Cheeta when I’ve been around. His goal seems to be to provide a safe, happy retirement for an animal with very special needs.

Kirk, this was a great article and your added comment was excellent! Once again I find myself repeating what I truly believe. And that is ,that this Cheeta has devoted so much of his life representing all the “Cheeta’s” ,who have given up their “natural” lives ,so that we could be entertained. Cheeta has enabled us to relive so many of our treasured memories of childhood days and Tarzan movies. He’s brought happiness to thousands of fans all over the world. He is an “Ambassador”, and deserves our praise and gratitude for keeping this alive. This is the Cheeta we know and love. Dan Westfall continues to provide love, devotion, and a safe and happy haven for Cheeta as well as many other ex-showbusiness primates.I believe that Cheeta’s mission and accomplishments override misplaced facts and attempts to discredit him!

Is this a publication devoted to science, or not?

If it is devoted to science, then the first priority of the publication must be to discovering, and publishing, the truth.

Thank you, Kirk, for this unique and inciteful article.
I was drawn in immediately and found myself wanting to know more and more about this “line” between human and chimp.
Cheeta provides us with a rare opportunity.
His story is fascinating.
And most importantly, it must be remembered that if it were not for the noble efforts of Dan Westfall to preserve and care for his dear “friend”, Cheeta, we would not even be talking about this.
I look forward to more stories about Cheeta.
Let’s feel his age, look into his eyes and discover their silent power and meaning.
Every creature on this earth has a story.
I loved the privilege of hearing about this one.
More Cheeta, please.

That was a wonderful comment sent in by Carol(May 4). More articles should be written about this amazing chimp, Cheeta, regardless of any uncertainties as to his exact age or the number of movies he has appeared in. It is obvious that Cheeta is elderly and we can learn so much from his long life.
  Cheeta’s story affords us the great opportunity to find out so much more about the “line” between human and chimp. The fascinating story of the life that Cheeta and Dan Westfall share, is probably the greatest window of opportunity to gain insight and knowledge into this. It appears to me that they share a very special bond of friendship, devotion, and love , which only adds to this exciting comparison and to the closeness/connection between man and chimp.