Update, June 6, 4:13 p.m.: Alan Cumming, who lent his celebrity to the search for Tonka, has given an official statement through PETA on the news of Tonka’s rescue: “I feel so emotional about this great news. When I met Tonka while filming the movie Buddy, I made a true friend, and I was honoured that he thought of me as a fellow chimp. I’m dancing a jig that PETA has rescued Tonka from the woman who locked him away alone in a basement and lied about it. The thought of Tonka being able to wander free and happy at Save the Chimps’ lush, spacious sanctuary for the rest of his life has me singing a happy song.”
Original story follows.
When all hope was lost, a chimp was found! ’90s movie star Tonka the chimpanzee, of George of the Jungle and Buddy, has been found alive after his owner filed court documents claiming his death last year, reports Rolling Stone. The declaration claimed that Tonka had died and detailed how the animal’s body was cremated in May 2021. However, Tonka never died and was reportedly living it up like a college student who’s returned home to their parents, complete with a “60-inch TV, an interactive iPad-like touch device,” to keep himself busy when he’s not entertaining guests at St. Patrick’s Day parties. However, his staycation came to a close when authorities searched the home of Tonia Haddix, Tonka’s owner, as part of an emergency court order obtained by PETA.
Haddix claimed that she faked Tonka’s death in order to keep him, as a judge ordered her to give up Tonka and six other chimps to the Center for Great Apes sanctuary in Florida. Haddix has been in an ongoing lawsuit with PETA, whose drama has been filmed for a Tiger King–inspired documentary about her chimps and legal battle. When asked by Rolling Stone if she’s concerned about lying under oath, Haddix reportedly laughed and said, “Honey, I’ve been held in contempt of court three times. I have paid $50 a day [in fines]. I’ve been through the mill. I’m sure that there’ll be some jail time in this. Do I care? No, I don’t care. It’s because it’s about that kid. As long as that kid is safe, I don’t care about nothing out there.”
Tonka’s Buddy co-star, Alan Cumming, has been heavily involved in the search for Tonka. He had previously matched PETA’s reward of $10,000 to find Tonka after PETA suspected he may still be alive. Vulture has reached out to Alan Cumming’s representatives for comment.
