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Darwin (monkey)

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Darwin
Excerpt of the 2012 viral image of Darwin wearing a shearling coat
Other name(s)Ikea Monkey
SpeciesJapanese macaque
SexMale
Bornc. May 2012 (age 12)[1]
ResidenceStory Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, Sunderland, Ontario

Darwin, colloquially referred to as the Ikea Monkey, is a male Japanese macaque who attracted international media attention in 2012 after images of him wandering an Ikea store in North York, Ontario, went viral. Darwin was determined to be a prohibited exotic pet and surrendered to Story Book Farm, an Ontario-based animal sanctuary where he now resides. A lawsuit brought by Darwin's former owner against Story Book Farm to return the animal was dismissed in 2013.

History

External videos
video icon "Lost monkey roams Ikea", from CNN in 2012
video icon "What Happened to the Ikea Monkey?", from the CBC in 2018
video icon "10 years later, the Ikea monkey is doing 'amazingly well'", from CP24 in 2022

On December 10, 2012, a Japanese macaque[1] wearing a shearling coat and a diaper was seen wandering the parking garage at an Ikea in North York, Toronto, Ontario.[2] The macaque, which had escaped from a crate inside a car in the parking garage, was peacefully herded into a corner of the store before being recovered by Toronto Animal Services.[2] Photos of the macaque from passersby shared on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites subsequently went viral, attracting international media attention as the "Ikea Monkey".[2][3][4]

The "stylish but illegal monkey", so designated by The Globe and Mail,[2] was later identified as "Darwin", a seven-month-old exotic pet owned by Toronto-based attorney Yasmin Nakhuda.[3][5] Darwin lived in Nakhuda's home with her husband and two children, who maintained a YouTube account featuring videos of the macaque.[6] Laws relating to the ownership of exotic pets in Ontario vary by municipality;[7] as macaques are considered prohibited animals under the Toronto Municipal Code, Nakhuda was fined CAD$240 and asked to surrender the animal, which was sent to the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, north of Toronto.[5][7]

On December 16, Nakhuda filed a lawsuit against Story Book Farm to recover Darwin, alleging that the sanctuary was "unlawfully detain[ing]" the macaque and that she had been forced to sign surrender papers under threat of criminal charges.[8] The lawsuit was dismissed on September 13, 2013,[9] with the court finding no evidence of coercion and ruling that Darwin is a wild animal "by virtue of his behaviour and qualities", and that "Ms. Nakhuda lost ownership of the monkey when she lost possession".[10] In January 2014, Nakhuda was ordered to pay $83,000 in legal fees to Story Book Farm.[11] She abandoned plans to appeal the ruling in February 2014;[12] by 2015, Nakhuda had purchased two new monkeys and moved to Pontypool, Ontario, which does not prohibit the ownership of exotic pets.[13]

Darwin has resided at Story Book Farm since 2012. Workers reported that Darwin was shy and under-socialized when he arrived at the sanctuary, but that he gradually acclimated to playing with other macaques, and now has a best friend named Maximus.[14][15] He resides in a mixed indoor-outdoor enclosure, and enjoys playing on a jungle gym made from fire hoses.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Our Residents: Old World Monkeys". Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Alphonso, Caroline (December 9, 2012). "Stylish but illegal monkey found roaming Toronto IKEA". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Kilkenny, Kate (December 12, 2012). "The IKEA Monkey Story? It's Complicated". Slate. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Kane, Laura; Izri, Touria (December 10, 2012). "Stylish primate charms Toronto shoppers". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Tamblyn, Jordan (December 9, 2022). "A decade ago, Darwin the Ikea monkey made headlines around the world: a timeline of the trial — and the aftermath". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Hui, Ann (September 23, 2013). "Darwin the 'IKEA monkey' to remain in animal sanctuary, judge rules". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Kindelan, Katie (December 11, 2012). "'Ikea Monkey' Owner Vows to Fight for Primate's Return". ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Kane, Laura (December 16, 2012). "Ikea Monkey: Darwin's owner in legal battle to get him back". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  9. ^ Mendoza, Dorrine (September 13, 2013). "Judge rules IKEA monkey must remain at sanctuary". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Gallant, Jacques (September 13, 2013). "Darwin the Ikea monkey: Former owner loses court battle for custody". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  11. ^ Ballingall, Alex (January 17, 2014). "Ikea monkey 'mom' ordered to pay $83,000 in legal fees". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  12. ^ Perkel, Colin (February 28, 2014). "Battle over ownership of Ikea monkey finally over as 'mom' gives up appeal". CTV News. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  13. ^ Gallant, Jacques (January 21, 2015). "Former owner of Ikea monkey defends latest primate purchases". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  14. ^ Alberga, Hannah (December 9, 2022). "The Ikea monkey was spotted 10 years ago. This is where he is now". CP24. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Notopoulos, Katie (December 9, 2022). "10 Years Later, The Ikea Monkey Is Thriving". BuzzFeed. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
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