Movie Star Chimp 'Tonka' Thought To Be Dead Alive In Florida

FLORIDA — A chimpanzee named Tonka who starred in popular Hollywood movies like "George of the Jungle" alongside Brendan Fraser and "Buddy" with Alan Cumming is not dead after all.

In a bizarre twist, PETA said Tonia Haddix, Tonka’s former owner, falsely claimed that he died last year to prevent the animal rights group from complying with a court order to rescue him.

Following her claim, PETA said it launched a nationwide search for the movie star chimp's whereabouts, offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his safe recovery.

The search recently came to an end after PETA said it received a recording of a phone call where Haddix confessed that Tonka was still, in fact, alive but would be euthanized June 2. Haddix told Rolling Stone, however, that she did not have immediate plans to euthanize Tonka.

In any case, PETA obtained an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent her from moving or euthanizing Tonka.

Haddix told the magazine she's not surprised if she faces jail time for lying about Tonka's death under oath in court — but she doesn't care. She simply couldn't bear to part with Tonka.

"As long as that kid [Tonka] is safe, I don’t care about nothing out there," she said.

She also described the chimp as her “best friend,” saying if PETA takes him away from her, she’ll die, according to Rolling Stone.

Tonka was ultimately found concealed in a tiny cage that was nailed to the floor in Haddix’s basement in Missouri, the animal rights organization said. As of a few days ago, he's now at a sanctuary run by Save the Chimps, Inc. in Fort Pearce, Florida.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tonka out of a basement and into the sunshine,” Save the Chimps CEO Ana Paula Tavares said in a news release. “Our care team looks forward to helping him bond with other chimps so he can enjoy more of a life as nature intended.”

Tonka’s rescue follows a years-long legal battle between PETA and Haddix, who took over ownership of the chimpanzees at Missouri Primate Foundation after PETA sued over their living conditions.

“PETA is excited to see his recovery from months of isolation—as well as decades of use and abuse—and cheers him on as he enjoys a peaceful new life, just like the other chimpanzees PETA rescued from the Missouri Primate Foundation," said PETA Foundation General Counsel for Animal Law Jared Goodman.