Cumming felt a special bond with Tonka, the chimpanzee co-star of his 1997 film Buddy, recalling him as a gentle and calming presence among others.
In 2021, PETA secured the release of several chimps from the facility in Festus, Mo., but Tonka was not among them, leading to a $10,000 reward for information.
Eric Goode's HBO series Chimp Crazy explores complex chimp-human relationships and shares the story of Tonia Haddix, who claimed to care for the chimps.
Cumming, a vegan and supporter of animal rights, expressed sympathy for the caretakers in Chimp Crazy despite acknowledging their failures in caring for the animals.
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