An elderly chimpanzee, who became famous for starring in the movie “Buddy, My Favorite Gorilla” (1997), has been living his movie story in the last few days, after his owner faked his death to prevent him from being brought into. an animal shelter.
The owner of the Tonka monkey, Tonia Haddix, announced the death of the animal in the second half of 2021. However, the claim was discredited by PETA, an NGO that fights for animal rights, and by actor Alan Cumming, a of the protagonists of the 1997 film.
“During the months we shot together, little Tonka and I became good friends, playing and taking care of each other. It’s horrible to think he could be in a cage, in a dark basement, somewhere or having found someone else. destiny, so I turn to anyone who knows what happened to him, please. “
Promising a $ 20,000 reward to anyone with information about the animal, Cumming and PETA found that Tonka’s death had been “exaggerated”.
According to the American newspaper New York Post, Tonka was found in a tiny room on a property owned by Haddix. When questioned by the authorities, she admitted that she hid the chimpanzee for fear that she might be picked up. In fact, the animal was moved to a monkey sanctuary in Florida.
“I’m sure I’ll end up in jail for some time,” Haddix told reporters, saying he had no regrets. “Do I care? No, I don’t care. It’s just about that child [Tonka]. As long as he’s safe, he’s not interested in anything else. “
Actor Alan Cumming celebrated the discovery of his co-star. “I am so happy that Tonka has finally come to a place where he can socialize with other chimps, be able to exercise properly and roam freely, and receive excellent nutrition and health care,” he wrote on Instagram.
“Unfortunately, there are many stories like Tonka’s. While the entertainment industry is much more aware of how it uses wild animals today, and technological advances mean that this is more rare, what happens to them. animals after exceeding their lifespan is still unregulated and subject to abuse, “he added.
Remember the “Buddy” trailer below.
Source: Terra
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