You probably remember the face, even if you don't know the name. Tonka the chimp was everywhere in the '90s. He starred alongside Alan Cumming in Buddy. He was in George of the Jungle. For a while, he was the golden boy of primate actors, a charismatic animal who seemed almost human on the big screen.
But Hollywood has a dark expiration date for chimpanzees. Once they hit puberty, they get too strong, too unpredictable, and—honestly—too dangerous for a film set.
So, Tonka disappeared from the limelight. For decades, most people assumed he was living out a quiet retirement. Then the HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy dropped, and the world realized the truth was way more twisted than a movie script. It wasn't just a "retirement." It was a high-stakes game of cat and mouse involving federal marshals, an undercover film crew, and a basement in Missouri.
What Happened to Tonka the Chimp? The Great Disappearance
In 2021, the legal walls were closing in on Tonia Haddix, a woman who had taken over the Missouri Primate Foundation. PETA had won a lawsuit to move the chimps there to accredited sanctuaries, citing poor living conditions.
When the authorities showed up to collect the animals, they found six chimps.
Tonka was gone.
Haddix didn't just say he was missing. She looked a federal judge in the eye—under oath—and said Tonka was dead. She claimed he had suffered a massive stroke and that her husband had cremated his body. She even produced a box of "ashes."
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It was a total lie.
For nearly a year, Tonka the chimp was a ghost. While PETA and actor Alan Cumming offered rewards for information, Tonka was actually living in a 60-square-foot cage in Haddix's basement in Sunrise Beach, Missouri. He wasn't seeing the sun. He wasn't grooming other chimps. He was eating Happy Meals and watching TV with a woman who claimed she loved him more than her own children.
The Basement Reveal and the Rescue
The truth only came out because the film crew for Chimp Crazy was already there. In one of the most surreal moments in documentary history, Haddix eventually let the cameras into her basement. There he was. Tonka, overweight and pale from lack of sunlight, reaching through the bars of a cage that was barely big enough for him to turn around in.
The filmmakers eventually alerted PETA's lawyers. In June 2022, federal marshals raided the home.
Imagine the scene: a former movie star, once pampered on Hollywood sets, being wheeled out of a dark basement in a transport crate. It was heartbreaking. But it was also the start of the only real "happy ending" this story could have.
Where is Tonka Today? (2026 Update)
If you’re worried that the trauma of the basement ruined him, you can breathe a sigh of relief. As of early 2026, Tonka is thriving at the Save the Chimps sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida.
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He didn't just survive; he basically became the "cool older guy" of the sanctuary.
Initially, there were huge concerns about his health. He was significantly overweight and had been on a cocktail of medications while in the basement. Experts worried he wouldn't know how to "be a chimp" after so much time in isolation. They were wrong.
- Family Reunion: In a twist no one saw coming, Tonka was reunited with his biological son, Cayleb, at the sanctuary.
- Social Life: He was integrated into a large social group on a three-acre island. No more basements. No more concrete. He spends his days grooming friends and basking in the Florida sun.
- The Ladies' Man: Caretakers at Save the Chimps have noted that Tonka is quite popular with the female chimps. He’s often seen "holding court" on his island.
He’s finally living the life a chimpanzee is supposed to live—one defined by autonomy and the company of his own kind, not by human entertainment or "ownership."
The Legal Fallout: Tonia Haddix Sentenced
You can't lie to a federal judge and get away with it forever. The legal system finally caught up with the "Dolly Parton of Chimps."
In early 2025, Tonia Haddix pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. The court didn't take it lightly. In August 2025, she was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.
The judge was particularly struck by her lack of remorse. Even as she faced sentencing, authorities found another chimp hidden in her basement in July 2025—a female named "Candy" (or sometimes referred to as a "new" chimp in court docs). It seems she simply couldn't stop.
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She's currently serving her time. When she gets out, she'll be on three years of supervised release and is permanently barred from holding a USDA license for exotic animals.
Why the Tonka Story Matters Now
The saga of Tonka the chimp isn't just about one eccentric woman and a famous ape. It’s a massive red flag about the private ownership of primates in the U.S.
Basically, chimps are not pets. They are incredibly intelligent, social, and powerful beings. When we try to "humanize" them—dressing them in clothes, feeding them fast food, keeping them in basements—we aren't loving them. We're breaking them.
The fact that Tonka was able to recover and find joy on an island in Florida is a testament to the resilience of his species. But it shouldn't have taken a federal raid to get him there.
Lessons for Animal Lovers
- Support Accredited Sanctuaries: If you want to help chimps like Tonka, look for sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS).
- Say No to "Chimp Photos": Avoid roadside zoos or "safaris" that offer close-up encounters or photo ops with baby primates. These babies are almost always taken from their mothers prematurely.
- Advocacy: Keep an eye on the Captive Primate Safety Act. Legislation is the only way to ensure another "basement chimp" scenario doesn't happen again.
Tonka is 33 now. Chimps can live into their 60s in captivity. That means he has decades of sunshine, fruit, and friendship ahead of him. After the life he's had, he's earned every bit of it.
If you want to see how he's doing, the Save the Chimps website often posts updates on their "resident movie star." It's a much better way to watch him than on a DVD from the '90s.
Actionable Insight: If you're moved by Tonka's journey, consider donating to Save the Chimps or the Center for Great Apes. These organizations provide the lifelong medical care and specialized diets that former "pet" chimps need to recover from years of improper care.