PETA’s Fight for Primate Protection Gains New Momentum After HBO’s Chimp Crazy

While HBO’s docuseries Chimp Crazy may have ended, the fight to end the private ownership of primates is far from over. Directed by Eric Goode, known for Tiger King, the series sheds light on the life of Tonka, a chimpanzee once famous for his roles in George of the Jungle and Babe: Pig in the City. Tonka’s story took a dark turn when he ended up living in a primate breeding facility, the Missouri Primate Foundation (MPF), which later became the focus of a legal battle initiated by PETA.

In 2017, PETA sued MPF, accusing the facility of violating the Endangered Species Act by keeping its chimpanzees, including Tonka, in poor conditions. A judge eventually ordered that Tonka and six other chimps be moved to sanctuaries, but Tonka mysteriously disappeared. His owner, Tonia Haddix, claimed he had died, only for the truth to surface later in Chimp Crazy: Tonka was being hidden in Haddix’s basement. Thanks to PETA’s persistence, Tonka was relocated to Save the Chimps, a sanctuary in Florida, where he was reunited with his son.

Brittany Peet, general counsel for captive animal law enforcement at PETA, played a central role in Tonka’s rescue. She revealed that PETA has rescued 24 chimpanzees from private owners, including several of Tonka’s relatives. This includes his brother Joe, who was saved from the Mobile Zoo in Alabama, and his daughter Lisa-Marie, found in a basement in Chicago.

Peet sees Chimp Crazy as a platform for broader change, similar to what Tiger King did for big cats. After the popularity of Tiger King, public pressure helped pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which made it illegal to own big cats as pets in the U.S. Peet and PETA hope that the attention generated by Chimp Crazy will lead to the passage of the Captive Primate Safety Act, which aims to prohibit private ownership and commercial breeding of non-human primates.

Currently, there are limited federal laws protecting primates like chimpanzees from private ownership, with regulations under the Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act being poorly enforced. PETA continues to step in, advocating for stricter legislation. If the Captive Primate Safety Act passes, it will prevent private individuals from owning or trading primates, putting an end to the suffering that many captive primates endure.

Peet encourages the public to take action by reaching out to their legislators to Support the bill. With enough momentum, PETA believes the Captive Primate Safety Act can be passed, providing long-awaited protection for chimpanzees and other primates in the U.S. For those inspired to help, PETA offers an easy way to contact legislators through their website, urging everyone moved by Chimp Crazy to channel their emotions into activism!

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