London, July 11 (ANI): Michael Jackson spent thousands of pounds trying to get leading throat specialists to implant vocal chords into his pet chimp Bubbles, it has been revealed.

"Michael always wanted to know how to make Bubbles speak and talk," News of the World quoted Michael's sister La Toya as saying.

"They definitely communicated. One morning Michael called me said 'You got to see this - he mimics everything I do'. So Michael starts brushing his teeth and Bubbles looks up and gets a tooth brush and starts brushing his teeth too. Then he wanted to give him vocal chords and asked doctors 'Can I give him an operation so that I can know what his thoughts are'," she added.

The late King of Pop looked into having Bubble's larynx moved further down his throat to let his airwaves produce word sounds.

However, doctors warned that the operation could harm his hairy pal, as it had never been tried before.

And the worried singer refused to put Bubbles' life at risk.

But he persisted for four years with his dream - and splashed thousands more flying in ape experts to try to help his pet to speak.

Although the sessions worked well, Bubbles could muster no more than an occasional bark or grunt.

Jacko had to let his best mate move out of the family home in Encino, California, when Bubbles got too big in 1988.

"The trainers who came to the house felt the situation wasn't normal and he shouldn't be there," said La Toya.

Bubbles was moved to a California monkey sanctuary, but became a regular visitor at the star's Neverland Ranch. (ANI)