Alan Cumming pleads for release of chimpanzee co-star Tonka
Scottish actor Alan Cumming has called for a chimpanzee he describes as his “old friend” to be released from captivity.
Tonka, who starred alongside the Aberfeldy-born actor in the 1997 movie Buddy, is living out his final days in a cage at the Missouri Primate Foundation (MPF), in Festus.
The owner of the centre, Connie Braun Casey, has been cited by the US government for violating animal-welfare regulations. TheMPFh as denied all of animal campaign group Peta’s claims and are currently suing it for defamation.
Last week, Mr Cumming, 52, wrote to Ms Casey asking her to release Tonka from her facility adding he had developed “a very close camaraderie” with the chimp during the filming for Buddy.