Tonia Haddix: Last News

appeared in the film “Buddy” with actor Alan Cumming was found alive last week after his former owner faked his death to avoid having him confiscated by PETA, according to Rolling Stone.Tonka’s owner, Tonia Haddix, had previously claimed that he had passed away from heart failure and that she cremated him in a fire pit, the outlet reported.She fabricated the story after PETA sounded the alarm about dire conditions at her Missouri animal sanctuary and demanded its closure, according to the report.The facility eventually went defunct, but Haddix claimed Tonka was no more.PETA didn’t buy her story and joined Cumming in offering a $20,000 for information leading to Tonka’s shrouded whereabouts.“During the months we filmed together, baby Tonka and I became good friends, playing and grooming each other and just generally larking about,” Cumming said in an April statement.The aging primate was eventually located in a small room on a property owned by Haddix, who conceded that she had lied about his death, Rolling Stone said.Tonka, 38, has now been placed in a sprawling Florida sanctuary, PETA said this week.Cumming was elated by his old pal’s new lease on life.“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,” he said, according to PETA. “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.”Haddix told Rolling Stone that she expects legal consequences.“I’m sure that there’ll be some jail time in this,” she said.

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”.

Alan Cumming is looking for help.

Alan Cumming wants to see his old co-star back home safe and sound.

Zack Sharf Alan Cumming is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone who has information about Tonka, the missing chimpanzee who starred with him and Rene Russo in the 1997 family comedy “Buddy.” Tonka was last seen in a cage at the now-defunct chimpanzee breeding facility Missouri Primate Foundation in Festus, Mo. Chimpanzees were bred at the location and then rented out for movies and parties or sold to private owners.