(Image source: Suncoast Primate Sanctuary)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

A Florida animal sanctuary announced the death of a celebrity chimpanzee last week -- but now some are asking, is the late chimp really who everyone thought he was? First, here’s Slate with the death announcement.

“Cheetah, a chimp famous for his part in the Tarzan movies from the 1930s, has gone to that big movie set and banana buffet in the sky. … Cheetah was living at the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor, Florida. He reportedly loved finger painting and people’s laughter, and was known for his ability to stand up straight and walk like his human costars. … He suffered kidney failure and passed away on Christmas Eve.”

While the animal sanctuary insists their Cheetah is the real deal, the claim has quite a few chimp experts scratching their heads. The main cause of skepticism -- the 1930s were a really long time ago. Fox News does the math.

“It appeared in several movies, including ‘Tarzan the Ape Man’ and ‘Tarzan and His Mate’ -- both from the 1930s. If the sanctuary owner’s claim is true, Cheetah would have been more than 80 years old. Critics claims it’s highly unlikely that a chimp in captivity could live that long.”

The average lifespan for chimps in captivity is in the range of 35-40 years. One chimp in another Florida sanctuary may be as old as 70. But 80 is unheard of. According to the Oregonian, that’s just the first reason to think this may not be the real Cheetah.

“Second, some Hollywood accounts indicate a chimp named Mr. Jiggs played Cheetah in the early films, and Jiggs died in 1938. Third, in 2008 a similar claim was made about another chimp who played Tarzan's sidekick, a claim that was less than accurate, since that chimp was born in 1960.”

The sanctuary owner is sticking to her guns, claiming the chimp was given to her grandparents by Tarzan star Johnny Weissmuller’s estate. She told the New York Times:

“We have nothing to prove … It cracks me up how ignorant some people are, but I think that causes controversy, and isn’t that what it’s all about? I mean, really. I think people like controversy.”

But is it really ignorant to question the sanctuary’s chimp cred? Any records of Cheetah’s origin were reportedly destroyed in a fire over a decade ago. And The Miami New Times says a chimp coming from Weissmuller’s estate wouldn’t necessarily be the furry film star.

“Weissmuller did move to Florida in the '60s ... During this time he also had some involvement in developing a Titusville, Florida, tourist trap known as Tropical Wonderland or Tarzan's Jungleland. It eventually closed in 1973. Is it possible this Cheetah came from Weissmuller's tourist trap and not his actual movies?”

Whether the Florida chimp was the real Cheetah or not, fans of the Tarzan star are remembering his impact on their lives. Mia Farrow, whose mother Maureen O’Sullivan played Jane in the films, tweeted this little memory.

“My mom,Tarzan's Jane, referred to Cheetah-the-chimp as 'that bastard' - saying he bit her at every opportunity.”

The sanctuary set up a page where fans can post their own memories of Cheetah the chimp. You can find a link in our transcript section.