Tony-Award winner Alan Cumming is searching for his buddy.
Cumming is willing to hand over a cool $10,000 in exchange for information about the famous chimpanzee who starred in the 1997 comedy “Buddy” with him.
Missing for months, Tonka was last seen caged up at the now-defunct Missouri Primate Foundation — a chimpanzee breeding facility that rented the primates out for movies and parties or sold them to private owners.
Animal rights group PETA joined forces with Cumming by putting up its own $10,000 reward, raising the total as high as $20,000 for information about the missing chimp.
“During the months we filmed together, baby Tonka and I became good friends, playing and grooming each other and just generally larking about,” Cumming said.
“It’s horrible to think he might be in a cage in a dark basement somewhere or have met some other fate, so I’m appealing to whoever knows what has become of him to please come forward and claim the reward.”
Cumming pictured with Tonka in 1997.Ron Galella Collection via Getty
The actor has teamed up with PETA in his search for Tonka.Getty ImagesPETA initially sued the Missouri Primate Foundation over its living conditions and was granted permission to rescue Tonka, as well as six other chimps, and transfer them to a sanctuary.
When the organization arrived to carry out the court’s order last July, Tonka was missing, and owner Tonia Haddix told officials he died, PETA said in a statement.
The actor starred in the 1997 comedy “Buddy” alongside Tonka.WireImageIn January, a judge found that Haddix’s testimony was not credible, prompting PETA and Cumming to launch a search for the beloved chimpanzee, the animal rights organization added.
“If you know where Cumming’s former costar may have been shipped to, sold, or hidden away, PETA wants to hear from you,” said Brittany Peet, PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel for Captive Animal Law Enforcement.
