The Self-Proclaimed 'Dolly Parton of Chimps' Is the Subject of “Tiger King” Director's New Series

HBO's 'Chimp Crazy' examines Tonia Haddix and other chimp moms who raise chimpanzees as exotic pets and the danger this poses to people and primates

One of the minds behind Tiger King has an upcoming docuseries about another wild side of exotic pet ownership.

On July 16, HBO released the trailer for its new four-part documentary series, Chimp Crazy. The show is directed by filmmaker Eric Goode, who helmed Tiger King — the Netflix series that followed private zoo operator Joe Exotic and animal rescuer Carole Baskin through a drama-filled dive into the world of big cat breeding.

Chimp Crazy also explores the space of exotic animal ownership, focusing on "chimp moms" — people who raise chimpanzees as pets and sometimes treat them like children — particularly Tonia Haddix.

Haddix is a former nurse turned exotic animal broker who calls herself the "Dolly Parton of chimps," according to an HBO release about the upcoming series.

In the trailer, Haddix appears in a pink bedroom filled with bunk beds and stuffed animals, talking about a chimpanzee named Tonka.

"Tonka and I just found each other. And Tonka loved me as much as I loved Tonka," Haddix says in the trailer while clips of her interacting with the captive chimpanzee.

Related: Chimps Who Spent Their Lives at Roadside Zoo Share Sweet Hug After Moving to New Sanctuary Home

According to HBO, Tonka was one of the seven chimpanzees bred as talent for entertainment that Haddix used to house and look after.

"I would give anything I had, possession-wise, up for that child. I would give my life for him, and that's exactly what I did, to be honest," Haddix adds in the trailer as clips of law enforcement, guns, and animals in cages flash across the screen.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

In its release about Chimp Crazy, HBO shared that the series will dive into the drastic steps Haddix took to keep Tonka. This years-long saga included a lawsuit from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals lawsuit, law enforcement, and the involvement of Alan Cumming, who starred in the 1997 film Buddy. The series will also explore the dangers of private chimpanzee ownership for people and primates.

Chimp Crazy will premiere on HBO on August 18.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.