The story of Tonka the chimpanzee has a happy ending at last.
The elderly chimp, who appeared alongside Brendon Fraser in “George of the Jungle” and co-starred with Alan Cumming in the 1997 film “Buddy”, was rescued by PETA on Sunday and has now arrived safely at the Save the Chimps sanctuary in Fort Pierce, Florida.
In a statement, PETA said, “Tonka will finally have room to roam, lush grounds to explore, and the chance to socialize with other chimpanzees.” The animal rights organization added that they “[look] forward to seeing him recover from his months of isolation—as well as decades of use and abuse—and enjoy a peaceful new life, just like the other chimpanzees rescued from the Missouri Primate Foundation.”
The group also released photos of Tonka taking in his new surroundings at the chimpanzee sanctuary.
Tonka became a lightning rod for controversy and concern in recent days. On Saturday, Rolling Stone reported that while court records indicated that Tonka died last year after suffering a stroke, with the animal’s body burned in a fire pit by owner Tonia Haddix, Tonka was nevertheless discovered alive and well on Thursday, hidden in Haddix’s Missouri home.
Haddix had reportedly faked the animal’s death due to an ongoing legal battle with PETA, which obtained an emergency court order that allowed police to search the home, where Tonka was found watching “a 60-inch TV” and “an interactive iPad-like touch device.”
READ MORE: Alan Cumming Offers $10,000 Reward For Missing Chimpanzee Co-Star From 199 Comedy ‘Buddy’
According to RS, faking the animal’s death was Haddix’s “last-ditch effort” to keep Tonka after a judge had earlier ordered her to turn over the animal, along with six other chimpanzees, to the Center for Great Apes sanctuary in Wauchula, Florida.
Haddix came clean to Rolling Stone, admitting that she lied about Tonka’s death and that the chimpanzee has been living in her home for the past year. “Oh absolutely, 100 percent,” she told the magazine. “In my house, yes.”
Haddix, however, remained unrepentant. “Honey, I’ve been held in contempt of court three times,” she said. “I have paid $50 a day [in fines]. I’ve been through the mill. I’m sure that there’ll be some jail time in this. Do I care? No, I don’t care. It’s because it’s about that kid. As long as that kid is safe, I don’t care about nothing out there.”
Previously, Cumming had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Tonka’s whereabouts.
“During the months we filmed together, baby Tonka and I became good friends, playing and grooming each other and just generally larking about,” the actor said in a statement. “It’s horrible to think he might be in a cage in a dark basement somewhere or have met some other fate, so I’m appealing to whoever knows what has become of him to please come forward and claim the reward.”
