Is Tonka the chimpanzee still alive? Here’s everything we know so far

Recent years have seen a lot of conjecture around Tonka, the chimpanzee once well-known for his roles in films like George of the Jungle and Buddy. Viewers who have followed his path from the silver screen to a sanctuary have been enthralled by his narrative, which appears in the HBO documentary series Chimp Crazy, released on 18 August 2024.

Tonka, a young primate actor who gained fame in the 1990s, became a beloved celebrity before his behavior became harder to manage as he grew older. According to PEOPLE, he spent years in a primate breeding facility before becoming involved in a legal dispute between PETA and his last caregiver, Tonia Haddix.

The docuseries clarifies the dramatic events that took place, leaving viewers wondering about his destiny. At Save the Chimps sanctuary, Tonka is indeed alive and leading a quiet life.

Chimp Crazy's storyline exposes the complicated emotional and legal conflicts around Tonka and other captive chimps. The show emphasizes the difficulties in giving these intelligent animals enough care as well as the extent some would go to safeguard them.

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The mystery of Tonka's whereabouts

After Tonia Haddix claimed he had passed away just before authorities showed up to relocate Tonka to a sanctuary, her location became a mystery in 2021. Later on, Haddix—under oath—admitted that he was alive and hiding in her basement, so proving this claim untrue. The disclosure set off a frenzy and highlighted issues about the safety and welfare of the chimpanzee.

His new home at Save the Chimps

When PETA found out that the chimpanzee would be living in 2022, they moved to have him taken off of Haddix's care. He was then moved to Fort Pierce, Florida's Save the Chimps sanctuary.

This celebrity chimpanzee now lives with 17 other chimpanzees, including his new friends Jacob, Cayleb, Ursula, Angie the 2nd, Andrea the 2nd, Lil' Mini, and September, following retirement to Doug Island, one of Save the Chimps' 12 island habitats.

His adaptation and new life

Tonka now has a fresh lease on life with the assistance of the sanctuary. The Save the Chimps caregivers mention that he has adjusted nicely to his new surroundings, despite first being more human-oriented because of his past.

He has fit in with the chimpanzee group, developing relationships with his neighbors and savoring the freedom of his new environment. The employees of the sanctuary stated to PEOPLE, that as a chimpanzee, he is friendly and sociable, especially loving grooming sessions with his new buddies.

A better life for the chimpanzee

The change in his quality of life was as much a physical one from Haddix's basement to a refuge. He has the chance to participate in natural activities, something he most certainly lacked in his years of captivity, as per the Save the Chimps website.

The sanctuary stresses low human interaction so that he may live as near to a natural chimpanzee life as possible. From enrichment events to social contacts with other chimpanzees, his caregivers make sure he has everything he needs to flourish.

As portrayed in Chimp Crazy, his narrative is one of hope and endurance. Several years of uncertainty have finally found the chimpanzee a place where he may live a dignified lifetime.

The refuge keeps an eye on Tonka's condition to make sure he gets the treatment he requires.