Missing chimpanzee Tonka found at Florida sanctuary
Tonka, a 38-year-old chimpanzee who starred in the films “Buddy” and “George of the Jungle,” among others, is adjusting to life at the sprawling 150-acre Save the Chimps Sanctuary in Florida. He was rescued on Sunday from a Missouri breeding operation, where a woman who owned him hid him in a cage in the basement for a year – after she allegedly claimed he was dead. An emergency court order was his ticket to freedom. “In the van on the way, all he wanted to do was stare out the window. He didn’t seem nervous at all. He made it clear to us what food he liked and what food he didn’t like. didn’t like it,” said Dr. Andrew Halloran, director of chimp behavior and care for Save the Chimps, who drove 20 hours to pick up Tonka and bring him back. Stay informed: WPBF 25 News local coverageTonka likes it water from a bottle, apples and oranges but not really mind bananas. He loves his neighbors in the quarantine wing of the sanctuary where he is adjusting well. He is already out and after 60 days he will be moved to one of the five-acre chimpanzee islands where he can do as he pleases. “It is so essential for chimpanzees to socialize, just as it is essential for us to socialize with other humans,” said said Halloran. under the limelight. Tonka was found in the Missouri basement after a long court battle between PETA and the ranch operator where he ended up after his film career. Another woman who helped care for the chimpanzees and didn’t want to abandon him allegedly claimed in court papers last year was dead and cremated. But PETA had doubts about the story. Latest: WPBF Entertainment Cover 25 News Actor Alan Cumming, who starred with Tonka in 1997’s “Buddy,” had developed a bond with the chimpanzee and offered him a reward for anyone who could find him. Save the Chimps officials received an emergency call on Thursday, asking if they could be at the Lakes of the Ozarks address by Sunday, where Tonka had just been found and was being guarded by marshals until to what it could be transported. At Save the Chimps, where Tonka will likely stay unless he moves to another Florida sanctuary, chimps can come in and out of their enclosure at will, eat whenever they want, and be part of a chimp society. give Tonka a place where he can thrive, where he can be free to be a chimpanzee; it’s the life he deserves and it’s the life we want to provide for all of our chimpanzees here,” Halloran said. To learn more about Save the Chimps, click here. Follow us on social networks: Facebook | Twitter | instagram
Tonka, a 38-year-old chimpanzee who starred in the films “Buddy” and “George of the Jungle,” among others, is adjusting to life at the sprawling 150-acre Save the Chimps Sanctuary in Florida.
He was rescued from a Missouri farm on Sunday, where a woman who owned him hid him in a cage in the basement for a year – after claiming he was dead. An emergency court order was his ticket to freedom.
“In the van on the way, all he wanted to do was stare out the window. He didn’t seem nervous at all. He made it clear to us what food he liked and what food he didn’t like. didn’t like,” said Dr. Andrew Halloran, director of chimp behavior and care for Save the Chimps, who drove 20 hours to pick up Tonka and bring him back.
Stay informed: Local coverage of WPBF 25 News
Tonka likes bottled water, apples and oranges but doesn’t really like bananas.
He loves his neighbors in the quarantine wing of the sanctuary where he is adjusting well.
He is already out and after 60 days he will be moved to one of the five acre chimpanzee islands where he can do whatever he wants.
“It’s so incredibly essential for chimpanzees to socialize, just as it’s essential for us to socialize with other humans,” Halloran said.
Video below: watch the chimpanzees celebrate Valentine’s Day
Tonka is calm and healthy and you can tell he’s used to being in the limelight.
Tonka was found in the basement of Missouri after a long legal battle between PETA and the operator of the breeding where he had ended up after his film career.
Another woman who helped care for the chimpanzees and did not want to abandon him reportedly claimed in court papers last year that he was dead and cremated.
But PETA had doubts about the story.
The last: Entertainment coverage of WPBF 25 News
Actor Alan Cumming, who starred with Tonka in 1997’s ‘Buddy’, had developed a bond with the chimpanzee and offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could find him.
On Thursday, Save the Chimps officials received an emergency call asking if they could be at the Lakes of the Ozarks address by Sunday, where Tonka had just been found and was being guarded by marshals until so that it can be transported.
At Save the Chimps, where Tonka will likely stay unless he moves to another Florida sanctuary, chimps can come in and out of their enclosure at will, eat whenever they want, and be part of a chimp society.
“We need to give Tonka a place where he can thrive, where he can be free to be a chimp; that’s the life he deserves and that’s the life we want to give all of our chimps here. “, Halloran said.
To learn more about Save the Chimps, click here.
Follow us on social networks: Facebook | Twitter | instagram
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