Former nurse-turned-exotic animal broker Tonia Haddix, who refers to herself as the “Dolly Parton of chimps”, spends her days caring for animals in captivity. However, her limitless love for one chimpanzee in particular spins into a wild cat-and-mouse game with authorities and an animal rights group.
3.5 / 5
Episode 1
Former nurse-turned-exotic animal broker Tonia Haddix fights to retain custody of her “kids” — seven chimpanzees at the Missouri Primate Foundation (MPF). Other chimp moms are introduced, including one who raised a baby chimpanzee alongside her own infant daughter.
Episode 2
PETA launches an investigation after a former Hollywood chimp named Tonka goes missing. It’s a high-stakes legal battle, particularly in light of a brutal attack that happened years earlier when another chimp nearly killed a Connecticut woman.
Episode 3
Actor Alan Cumming, who also has a special relationship with Tonka, adds $10,000 to a reward for Tonka’s whereabouts, and the film crew faces an ethical dilemma as parallels are drawn to a previous PETA case that took a dangerous turn in Oregon.
Episode 4
Tonka’s fate becomes clearer while Tonia struggles to let go and dreams of one day opening her own island sanctuary where she can live among chimpanzees.
