Chimp Crazy—the 2024 HBO docuseries from Tiger King director Eric Goode—has kicked off a wave of support for legislation that would help prevent humans from exploiting vulnerable primates in the pet trade. The series, in part, tells the story of Tonka, a chimpanzee formerly used in Hollywood films who, in 2021, famously vanished from the decrepit Missouri Primate Foundation amid a legal battle between PETA and Tonia Haddix.
Who Is Tonia Haddix?
The self-described “Dolly Parton” of chimpanzees, Tonia Haddix is a notorious animal broker previously affiliated with the now-defunct Missouri Primate Foundation. Featured heavily in Chimp Crazy, Haddix admits to taking ownership of seven chimpanzees who lived at the Festus, Missouri, compound despite having no formal training working with animals.
In Chimp Crazy, Haddix can be seen feeding chimpanzees unhealthy McDonald’s Happy Meals and giving them sugary Powerade beverages to drink.
Tonka was one of several chimpanzees owned by Tonia Haddix.
His disappearance sparked a nationwide search led by PETA that included help from actor Alan Cumming, who starred alongside Tonka in the 1997 film Buddy.
Chimp Crazy proves that treating highly intelligent and sensitive apes and monkeys like movie props or “pets” is cruel and extremely dangerous.
If you were moved by Tonka’s story in Chimp Crazy, contact your federal legislators and urge them to cosponsor the bipartisan Captive Primate Safety Act, which would ban the private ownership, private breeding, and private commercial trade of monkeys and apes.
The public outcry sparked by Tiger King pushed Congress to pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act in 2022, which banned the private ownership of big cats, including lions and tigers.
The Captive Primate Safety Act was introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Reps. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. The legislation is cosponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla of California and Reps. Nancy Mace of South Carolina and Joe Neguse of Colorado.
The first episode of Chimp Crazy dropped on August 18 on Max (HBO’s streaming service)—you’ll be floored by what you see.
Note: PETA supports animal rights and opposes all forms of animal exploitation and educates the public on those issues. PETA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or any political party.
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