4 min read
Time is ticking for Tonia Haddix! The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has filed an administrative lawsuit against the notorious Chimp Crazy villain, seeking to terminate the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) license that allows her to broker USDA-regulated animals and operate her roadside zoo in Camden County, Missouri. This move—which follows urging by PETA and our sweeping campaign against the exhibitor—could be the final nail in the coffin for Haddix’s career in the animal exploitation business.
Chimp Crazy and Tonia Haddix’s Crimes
Haddix first landed on PETA’s radar in 2018, when she took ownership of seven chimpanzees who lived at the now-defunct Missouri Primate Foundation—a former breeding compound in Festus, Missouri, where the chimpanzees were warehoused in filthy cages amid trash, their own waste, cockroaches, and flies. Following a lawsuit from PETA and former MPF volunteer Angela Scott, a court ordered Haddix to relinquish all seven chimpanzees at the facility, allowing us to transfer them to accredited sanctuaries. When we went to carry out our order, Haddix falsely claimed that one of the chimpanzees—Tonka—had died.
As revealed in HBO’s explosive docuseries Chimp Crazy, contrary to Haddix’s claims, Tonka was alive—Haddix had been keeping him in a tiny cage in her basement. He could take only a few steps in any direction, he was not allowed to go outside, he couldn’t feel the warmth of the sun or the grass beneath his feet, he had no companionship with other chimpanzees (something extremely important to chimpanzees’ well-being), he was overweight (likely from lack of exercise), and he wasn’t receiving proper veterinary care.
The series depicts Haddix lying to prevent Tonka from being sent to a real sanctuary; leaking confidential details regarding the transfers of chimpanzees from the Missouri Primate Foundation; and the apparent aftermath of Haddix entering a chimpanzee enclosure—all in violation of various court orders.
Where Are Tonka and Tonia Haddix Now?
Thanks to PETA, Tonka and the other chimpanzees who once suffered at the Missouri Primate Foundation are now safe at true sanctuaries, where they can freely roam, climb, explore, play, and socialize with other members of their species.
Meanwhile, Haddix appears to still be brokering infant monkeys and other animals to roadside zoos and private buyers in the “pet” trade. She also runs a roadside zoo, Sunrise Beach Safari, LLC., where she shamelessly continues to put animals in harm’s way by offering “up-close animal encounters.”
Haddix’s Animal Abusing Clock Is Ticking, Thanks to PETA’s Work
PETA sent multiple complaints urging the USDA to revoke Haddix’s license and provided the agency with the evidence of perjury and animal welfare violations it needs to do so. Prior to the release of Chimp Crazy, PETA alerted the USDA to the docuseries, giving it a chance to get ahead of any public criticism. Actor Alan Cumming—who once starred alongside Tonka the chimpanzee in Buddy—even joined our plea to federal officials.
The USDA Finally Came to Its Senses
With the USDA’s lawsuit against Haddix in motion, her days of exploiting animals like Tonka may soon be over. In July 2024, the agency ordered Haddix to explain why her AWA license should not be terminated, noting that her conduct before the federal court in our ESA case makes her “unfit to be licensed, as her continued licensure would be contrary to the Act’s purpose of ensuring the humane care and treatment of animals.”
The termination of Haddix’s AWA license would prohibit her from continuing to broker USDA-regulated animals, as well as operate her roadside zoo.
PETA’s Legal Battle Against Haddix Continues
In October 2024, PETA filed a motion to hold Haddix in contempt of court, using her statements and actions documented in Chimp Crazy as evidence of her apparent perjury and criminal contempt. The filing was PETA’s sixth motion for contempt against Haddix, who already owes us nearly $225,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs.
The next month, the judge ordered the United States Attorney’s Office to make a charging decision regarding PETA’s allegations. She also indicated that if the agency declines to prosecute, then her Court will appoint a private attorney to prosecute the criminal charges—meaning that Haddix is guaranteed to face federal criminal charges.
What Will Come Next?
To date, PETA has facilitated the rescue of 25 chimpanzees from seedy exhibitors and the “pet” trade—and we won’t stop working for others who are still being exploited. PETA is offering a $10,000 reward for evidence that results in the confiscation by law-enforcement authorities of any of the (fewer than 100) chimpanzees across the country languishing at roadside zoos, in private compounds, and in the “pet” trade. Whistleblowers with information about exploited chimpanzees are encouraged to contact PETA.
You can also help exploited chimpanzees by calling on your federal representatives to cosponsor the bipartisan Captive Primate Safety Act, which would ban private ownership, private breeding, and all commercial activity involving primates used in the “pet” trade.
