Neverland Tigers Thriller and Sabu Inconsolable After Telepathically Learning of Jackson Death

Having combed now through Michael Jackson's Last Will and Testament several times, we can say with some authority that the singer left nothing to any member of his beloved menagerie. Bubbles the chimp, Tootles the llama, Nibs the emu, Slightly the crocodile, Curly the peacock, "Off The Wall" the albino black bear, and The Tortoise Twins will simply have to settle for their fond memories of their doting owner, and the children visitors who'd pat them far too hard on the head on their way to the Wishing Tree Gift Shop.

As for Neverland Ranch's two tigers, Thriller and Sabu, they both found a happy home after the singer dismantled his private zoo, living among 66 other retired lions, tigers, and various deadly showbiz felines at Tippi Hedren's Los Angeles Shambala Preserve (website a must visit). The Birds star and outspoken cativist broke the news gently shortly after learning of Jackson's death:

"I went up and sat with them for a while and let them know that Michael was gone," she explained. "You don't know what mental telepathy exists from the human to the animal. But I hope they understood."

They surely did -- and perhaps at long last their anguished tiger whimpers will echo out no longer, as the sound of the screaming lambs being saddled up for master's deranged sheep polo matches would be silenced once and for all.

· Tippi Hedren tells Michael Jackson's former pet tigers of his death [Guardian]