The Grotesquerie of Chimp Crazy

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Tonka was born on October 5, 1991, at Working Wildlife, an exotic animal breeding compound. As with other “animal actors,” Tonka was taken from his mother prematurely to be featured in Hollywood films, including George of the Jungle, Babe: Pig In the City, and Buddy. By 2003, Tonka had grown too big and strong to be used in productions, so he was transferred to a primate breeding compound in Missouri. Originally called Chimparty, the facility rebranded as the non-profit Missouri Primate Foundation (MPF) to deflect criticism about the care of chimpanzees and their use for entertainment. Tonka spent nearly two decades in these substandard enclosures, without the space and psychological enrichment needed by highly intelligent apes such as chimpanzees.

In 2017, PETA sued MPF over the conditions of the facility. During the ensuing prolonged legal battle about the future of the facility and the ownership of the chimpanzees, Tonka went missing, raising heightened concerns about his safety and welfare. PETA and actor Alan Cumming led a public campaign to locate the chimp and offered a reward, which ultimately led to an important tip: Tonka was being kept in a basement cage, alone and without the care and companionship his complex species requires.

PETA contacted Save the Chimps to assist in his rescue. Our senior medical and behavioral experts rushed to the scene and worked alongside U.S. Marshals and other authorities to rescue Tonka from his life of banishment. Tonka arrived at Save the Chimps sanctuary in June of 2022 to a warm and welcoming team of professionals who were ready to help him begin the life he always deserved.

Because of his poor diet and confinement to a basement cage, Tonka was pale and overweight when he arrived. Our expert team worked with him to transition him to a diet suited for chimpanzees. He immediately took advantage of his new access to the outdoors, playing and exploring and even reveling in a rainstorm.

Following a quarantine period for health exams and adjustment to his new environment, Tonka was introduced to two other chimpanzees, Jacob and Cayleb, who, like Tonka, had recently been rescued from imperiling conditions. The trio formed a close bond and were later introduced to Doug’s Island, a large chimpanzee family on one of our sanctuary’s 12 island habitats.

Tonka’s current family consists of 17 chimps, including his newest friends Ursula, Angie the 2nd, Andrea the 2nd, Lil’ Mini, and September. With the freedom to choose between being inside or outside on his 3-acre island home, Tonka is making up for his years in a cage by soaking up the Florida sunshine, playing and relaxing with his family, and painting – one of his favorite enrichment activities.

Says Save the Chimps care staffer Jenny Friedman: “When Tonka came to us, he was more human-oriented than chimp-oriented and rarely involved himself in group politics. Now, you would never know that Tonka is new to the group. He interacts affectionately with all the chimps and will drop everything to join a grooming session, especially if his beloved Ursula invites him.”

Tonka’s first three decades were filled with loneliness and trauma, but every day, he embraces his new forever home at Save the Chimps with grace and resilience.

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