Ikea monkey to stay at Ontario sanctuary for now

By The Canadian Press - Friday, December 21, 2012 at 11:02 AM - 0 Comments

OSHAWA, Ont. – A Japanese macaque named Darwin, otherwise known as the Ikea monkey, will stay at a primate sanctuary at least for the next few weeks as an Ontario judge dismissed his owner’s bid to bring him home for the holidays.

Darwin was scooped up by animal services and sent to the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont., after he was found in a tiny shearling coat wandering an Ikea parking lot in Toronto.

Yasmin Nakhuda, who says she has cared for Darwin like a child since she got him in July, filed a motion in court to try to get him back. It is illegal to own a monkey in Toronto, but Nakhuda is arguing that animal control did not have the power to seize Darwin, only to issue her a ticket and a fine, which they did. Continue…

Ikea monkey decision due Friday; owner gets shearling coat back

By The Canadian Press - Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 5:09 PM - 0 Comments

OSHAWA, Ont. – The owner of a monkey found wandering in an Ikea parking lot is set to learn Friday whether she will get to take him home, albeit temporarily, but she didn’t leave an Ontario courthouse empty-handed Thursday.

Darwin the Japanese macaque has been residing at a primate sanctuary since he made international headlines with his romp amongst confused furniture shoppers in Toronto earlier this month. After a court hearing Thursday where Yasmin Nakhuda began legal efforts seeking Darwin’s return, the sanctuary gave her back his tiny shearling coat that captured so much attention.

Nakhuda left the courthouse clutching the stylish little jacket and said little about the case. Continue…

Toronto woman goes to court today in effort to get her monkey back

By The Canadian Press - Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 10:51 AM - 0 Comments

OSHAWA, Ont. – A judge in Oshawa, Ont., is to hear a motion today on whether a Japanese macaque monkey named Darwin should be returned to a Toronto woman.

Yasmin Nakhuda alleges the tiny primate was illegally taken from her by Toronto animal control officials and moved to the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont.

The sanctuary is asking the judge to adjourn the case for several reasons, including a request for more time to gather evidence. Continue…

The (Ikea) Monkey Trial: Yasmin Nakhuda fights for return of macaque

By The Canadian Press - Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 6:27 AM - 0 Comments

OSHAWA, Ont. – A judge in Oshawa, Ont., is to hear a motion today on whether a Japanese macaque monkey named Darwin should be returned to a Toronto woman.

Yasmin Nakhuda alleges the tiny primate was illegally taken from her by Toronto animal control officials and moved to the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont.

The sanctuary is asking the judge to adjourn the case for several reasons, including a request for more time to gather evidence.

The young monkey captured worldwide attention earlier this month when he was spotted wandering in a Toronto Ikea parking lot wearing a tiny shearling coat.

In court documents, Nakhuda says she, her husband and their two kids would be willing to move to a city that allows monkeys in order to keep Darwin, whom they consider part of the family.

The sanctuary claims in its court filing that it now owns Darwin, arguing that unlike domestic animals, wild animals are owned by the person that possesses them and Nakhuda voluntarily turned the monkey over to Toronto Animal Services.

Nakhuda protested at a Toronto Animal Services office Wednesday as part of her efforts to get Darwin back.

About 15 people urging animal services to “free Darwin” turned out to support Nakhuda, who is a real estate lawyer.

Nakhuda says she was never given the chance to remedy the situation after being fined $240 for breaking the city’s prohibited-animal bylaw.

“I’ve spoken to a number of people in the legal community and they do agree that there is no statute allowing the city to take an animal away based on the circumstances,” she said Wednesday.

“Hopefully, based on the law, the judge will decide that Darwin should be returned to his rightful owner,” Nakhuda said at the protest.

#IkeaMonkey: Where is he now?

By macleans.ca - Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 6:13 AM - 0 Comments

Five things we’ve learned about #IkeaMonkey from the morning papers:

1. His name is Darwin and he is a five-month-old rhesus macaque.

2. Owner Yasmin Nakhuda is a Toronto real estate lawyer. As she explained to the Star, she first encountered the monkey when she agreed to watch the animal for someone else. “It was a babysitting experience that turned into a fatal attraction and put me where I am,” she told the paper. Turns out the monkey wouldn’t leave her side.

3. In posts that accompany YouTube videos of her charge, Nakhuda describes caring for her monkey-baby: “He has to be with me all the time which means he goes with me to the office, sleeps with me, eats with me, showers with me, goes shopping with me . . .”

In this YouTube video, Darwin is captured exploring Nakhuda’s office. (“Hey, I am a working mom,” Nakhuda explains. “Do you own a monkey too? I’d love to have tips for helping Darwin to be a happy monkey. Feel free to share.”)

In this video, Darwin shows off his Halloween costume:

Here, he gets ready for bed:

4. Darwin’s new home is Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont., where he has been paired with a “motherly” monkey. “We were relieved that he was coming to a place where his needs are going to be met first,” sanctuary founder Sherri Delaney told the National Post.

5. Darwin’s former owners have been fined $240 for owning an exotic pet.

Ikea monkey stressed, will be sent to sanctuary

By The Canadian Press - Monday, December 10, 2012 at 12:06 PM - 0 Comments

TORONTO – A stylish baby monkey who was found wandering around in a parking lot outside a Toronto Ikea store is said to be a bit stressed but otherwise in good shape.

Mary Lou Leiher from the Toronto Animal Services said the five-month-old rhesus monkey — named Darwin — is being cared for in an animal shelter after he was seized by animal officials Sunday afternoon.

“He’s a baby. He’s a little bit sensitive,” Leiher told reporters Monday.

“We’re being very cognizant of that and making sure he gets out to a place where they can care for him properly.” Continue…

#IkeaMonkey strikes again

By Aaron Hutchins - Monday, December 10, 2012 at 4:49 AM - 0 Comments