Six chimpanzees were removed Wednesday (July 28) from a Festus-area facility so they could be relocated to a sanctuary in Florida.
Representatives from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claimed ownership of the six chimps that had been housed at the Missouri Primate Foundation, 12338 Hwy. CC, south of Festus.
The chimps were relocated to the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla., a Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries accredited sanctuary, PETA said in a July 29 written statement.
“After decades of being primarily warehoused in cramped cells, these highly social and smart chimpanzees are on their way to a wonderful sanctuary home,” PETA lawyer Jared Goodman said in a written statement. “PETA looks forward to seeing them receive the expert veterinary and other care they deserve.”
PETA said Project Chimps transported the chimps from the Festus-area facility to Florida.
Tonia Haddix, who had been the chimps’ caretaker since 2019, was not allowed on the premises when the chimps were taken away from the Festus-area facility because of previous statements she reportedly made about disrupting the transfer process.
Members of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office were stationed outside the sanctuary to control traffic on Hwy. CC during the removal, and U.S. Marshals were at the facility at PETA’s request.
Haddix said the removal of the animals was difficult for her.
“(Tuesday) was horrible because we knew everything we did with them was the last time we would do it with them,” said. “We stayed to about 3:30 a.m. (Wednesday) with the chimps. It is extremely hard. There are a lot of tears. We just hope and pray everything goes well for the chimps, and we wish they could have stayed.”
The transfer of the animals appears to conclude a lawsuit PETA filed in 2016 against the chimps’ original owner, Connie Casey, who operated the Missouri Primate Foundation, formerly known as Chimparty, which provided chimps for parties, television ads and movies.
Haddix took over ownership and care of the chimps in 2019 in an attempt to end PETA’s lawsuit.
Haddix attempted to stop the removal of two of the chimps when she filed an appeal in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, but that emergency motion was denied July 26, court records show. After the chimps were removed, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh also denied a request for a stay.
The chimps were removed after Haddix violated an agreement she had reached with PETA in October 2020. That agreement would have allowed Haddix to retain ownership of three chimps, one whom reportedly has since died, if they were moved to an adequate facility, and Haddix said one was being built in Eldon southwest of Jefferson City. The agreement also called for PETA to relocate the remaining four chimps to the Florida sanctuary.
However, Haddix was found in contempt of the order and on June 2 began being fined $50 a day. Haddix said the fines have been covered by donations from exotic animal owner and lovers via a GoFundMe account.
On July 14, Haddix was ordered by U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry to give up ownership of all the remaining chimps.
The court order called for seven animals – Tammy, Connor, Candy, Kerry, Tonka, Crystal and Mikayla – to be turned over to PETA.
But, Haddix previously had said Tonka died over the weekend of May 29 from congestive heart failure. However, the court ordered Haddix to show proof of the 38-year-old chimp’s death, but she has not produced proof, according to court records.
Goodman said the organization wants to make sure Haddix is not trying to hide Tonka.
“We asked for documentation for the company that handled the cremation, so we can contact them to confirm this actually happened, or some sort of receipt or proof that this occurred,” he said July 16. “She has declined to provide this information to us after being repeatedly asked.”
Haddix said she will continue to attempt to reclaim ownership of Crystal and Mikayla.
“We will take the case to the Supreme Court, if they will accept it,” Haddix said.
Click to read past Leader coverage on the events that led to "Chimp Crazy."