Tonka, a 38-year-old chimp who starred in the movies “Buddy” and “George of the Jungle,” is adapting to life at a 150-acre chimpanzee sanctuary in Florida. He was rescued Sunday from a Missouri breeding operation, where a woman hid him in a basement cage for a year – after allegedly claiming he was dead. An emergency court order was his ticket to freedom. “Here in the van on the way, he just wanted to look out the window. He wasn’t nervous at all. He definitely told us what he liked to eat and what he didn’t,” Dr. Andrew Halloran, director of chimpanzee behavior and care, who spent 20 hours picking up Tonka and bringing her back. Be informed: local coverage from WPBF 25 Newstonka Likes water from a bottle, apples and oranges but doesn’t really care for bananas. He likes his neighbors in the quarantine wing of the sanctuary where he is adopting well. He’s already outside and after 60 days, he’ll be moved to one of the five-acre chimpanzee islands where he can do whatever he wants. “It’s incredibly important for chimpanzees to socialize like that. that it’s important for us to socialize with other humans.” Video below: Watch the chimpanzee celebrate Valentine’s Day Tonka is calm and completely healthy and you can tell that she won’t be in the limelight. Tonka was found in the basement of Missouri during a protracted court battle between PETA and the operator of the breeding operation, where he had ended his film career. Another woman who was helping care for the chimpanzee and who did not want to leave her, allegedly claimed in court documents last year. was dead and was cremated. But PETA had doubts about the story. LATEST: ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE FROM WPBF 25 NEWS Actor Alan Cumming, who starred with Tonka in “Buddy” in 1997, developed a bond with the chimp and was offered a $10,000 reward for anyone who could find him. On Thursday, the managers of Save the Chimps received an emergency call, asking if they could be at the Ozarks address by Sunday, where Tonka had just been found, and while she was being guarded by marshals. was. can be carried. In Save the Chimps, where Tonka will likely stay until she moves to another Florida sanctuary, the chimps can move in and out of their enclosures at will, eat when they want, and be part of chimpanzee society. Huh. Give Tonka a place where he can thrive, where he can be free to become a chimpanzee; This is the life they deserve and this is the life we want to provide for all of our chimpanzees here.”
The 38-year-old chimpanzee Tonka, who starred in films such as “Buddy” and “George of the Jungle”, is adapting to life in the 150-acre area. save chimps sanctuary in Florida.
He was rescued on Sunday from a Missouri breeding operation, where a woman hid him in a basement cage for a year – after allegedly claiming he was dead. An emergency court order was his ticket to freedom.
“Here in the van on the way, he just wanted to look out the window. He wasn’t nervous at all. He definitely told us what he liked to eat and what he didn’t,” Dr. Andrew Halloran, chimpanzee director of chimpanzee behavior and care, who spent 20 hours picking up Tonka and bringing her back.
Be informed: Local Coverage 25 News from WPBF
Tonka loves water from the bottle, apples and oranges but doesn’t really care about bananas.
He likes his neighbors in the quarantine wing of the sanctuary where he is adopting well.
He is already out and after 60 days, he will be taken to one of the five-acre chimpanzee islands where he can do whatever he wants.
“It’s just as incredibly important for chimpanzees as it is for us to socialize with other humans,” Halloran said.
Video below: Watch chimpanzees celebrate Valentine’s Day
Tonka is calm and completely healthy and you can tell that she has a knack for being in the limelight.
Tonka was found in a Missouri basement after a lengthy court battle between PETA and the operator of the breeding operation, where he ended his film career.
Another woman who was helping care for the chimpanzee and who did not want to leave her reportedly claimed in court documents last year that she was dead and cremated.
But PETA was skeptical of the story.
Newest: Entertainment Coverage from WPBF 25 News
Actor Alan Cumming, who starred with Tonka in “Buddy” in 1997, developed a bond with chimpanzees and Anyone who could find him was offered a $10,000 reward.
On Thursday, the managers of Save the Chimps received an emergency call, asking if they could be in the Lakes of the Ozarks address by Sunday, where Tonka had just been found and until they could be transported. Till then it was being guarded by marshals.
In Save the Chimps, where Tonka will likely stay until she moves to another Florida sanctuary, chimpanzees can move in and out of their enclosures at will, eating when they choose and a chimpanzee society. can be a part of.
“We need to give Tonka a place where she can thrive, where she can be free to become a chimpanzee,” Halloran said.
To learn more about Save the Chimps, click Here,