Owner Of Chimp Who Worked With Alan Cumming In ‘Buddy’ Faked Animal’s Death Amid PETA Dispute
04.06.2022 - 21:45
/ etcanada.com
Controversy is erupting around Tonka, an elderly chimpanzee who appeared alongside Brendon Fraser in “George of the Jungle” and co-starred with Alan Cumming in the 1997 film “Buddy”.
Rolling Stone reports that court records indicate that Tonka died last year after suffering a stroke, with the animal’s body burned in a fire pit by owner Tonia Haddix.
However, Tonka was discovered alive and well on Thursday, hidden in Haddix’s Missouri home.
Haddix had reportedly faked the animal’s death due to an ongoing legal battle with PETA, which obtained an emergency court order that allowed police to search the home, where Tonka was found enjoying “a 60-inch TV” and “an interactive iPad-like touch device.”
READ MORE: Alan Cumming Offers $10,000 Reward For Missing Chimpanzee Co-Star From 199 Comedy ‘Buddy’
According to RS, faking the animal’s death was Haddix’s “last-ditch effort” to keep Tonka after a judge had earlier. ordered her to turn over the animal, along with six other chimpanzees, to the Center for Great Apes sanctuary in Wauchula, Florida.
Haddix came clean to Rolling Stone, admitting that she lied about Tonka’s death and that the chimpanzee has been living in her home for the past year. “Oh absolutely, 100 percent,” she told the magazine. “In my house, yes.”
Haddix, however, remained unrepentant. “Honey, I’ve been held in contempt of court three times,” she said. “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.”
Previously, Cumming had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Tonka’s whereabouts.
“During the