A chimpanzee who used to be housed in a Festus-area facility and has been missing since last summer has been found alive.
Tonka, a 38-year-old chimp, had been missing since July 28, when six other chimps were transported from the Missouri Primate Foundation, 12338 Hwy. CC, south of Festus to a sanctuary in Florida after a federal judge ordered their caregiver to turn over ownership of the animals to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
When the other chimps were taken from the Festus-area facility, their caregiver, Tonia Haddix, said Tonka had died on May 30, 2021, and her husband, Jerry Aswegan, said he cremated Tonka, court documents said.
PETA did not believe Tonka was dead because Haddix could not provide documentation to verify the cremation. The group’s lawyers also argued the process described to cremate Tonka would not have worked, according to court records.
On May 30 of this year, PETA obtained a May 22 audio recording of a telephone call from Orito Capital Partners of Delaware suggested Haddix had been hiding Tonka on a 20-plus-acre property in Sunrise Beach, according to court documents.
PETA also secured a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, June 1, against Haddix because during the course of the 28-minute audio recording, she allegedly said Tonka was to be euthanized on Thursday, June 2, according to court records.
“After months of searching, Tonka has finally been found and help is on the way,” said Jared Goodman, a lawyer for PETA. “He has endured nearly a year of isolation and likely needs urgent care, but if all goes well, PETA will soon arrange for him to be moved to a lush sanctuary where he’ll have a chance for a real life at last.”
Haddix did not return a phone call for comment
Moira Colley, a spokeswoman for PETA, said Thursday that Tonka’s condition was unknown and a veterinarian probably wouldn’t be able to exam the chimp until this weekend.
After Haddix claimed that Tonka had died, U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry did not hold her in contempt but allowed PETA to file a new lawsuit to force Tonka’s transfer to the Florida facility, if the group discovered Tonka was still alive, court records show.
The temporary restraining order issued on Wednesday says Haddix is scheduled to appear in federal court on June 15 to show cause why she should not be held in civil contempt for perjury and continued violations of the consent decree, which transferred ownership of the chimps from her to PETA.
In the transcript of the May 22 telephone call, Haddix was talking with someone identified only as “interviewer.”
Haddix told the interviewer a veterinarian said Tonka was suffering from “congestive heart failure, again” and that the chimp needed to be euthanized. In court documents, PETA claims the veterinarian who assessed Tonka’s health condition is not qualified to examine chimps.
Haddix allegedly told the interviewer she was upset Tonka has been used to make money during his life, and she also said, “You realize if he was not a wanted fugitive ... you can make a million dollars off of TikTok off of him?,” according to the transcript.
PETA offered a $10,000 reward for information that would help find Tonka. Actor Alan Cumming, who has had roles in numerous movies and TV shows, matched the reward.
Cumming was in a 1997 movie called “Buddy” with Tonka.
Colley said on Thursday that no one will be claiming the reward.
In addition to Tonka, Haddix previously cared for six chimps named Crystal, Mikayla, Tammy, Connor, Candy and Kerry at the Festus-area facility formerly known as Chimparty, which provided chimps for parties, television ads and movies.
The chimps previously belonged to Connie Casey, who transferred ownership of the animals to Haddix in an attempt to end a lawsuit PETA filed against Casey in 2016 claiming the chimps weren’t being cared for properly.
Click to read past Leader coverage on the events that led to "Chimp Crazy."