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, Canada, 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.
 Excerpt of the 2012 viral image of Darwin wearing a shearling coat | |
| Other name(s) | Ikea Monkey |
|---|---|
| Species | Japanese macaque |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | c. May 2012 (age 12)[1] |
| Residence | Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, Sunderland, Ontario |
History
edit| External videos | |
|---|---|
 "Lost monkey roams Ikea", from CNN in 2012 | |
| "What Happened to the Ikea Monkey?", from the CBC in 2018 | |
| "10 years later, the Ikea monkey is doing 'amazingly well'", from CP24 in 2022 |
On December 9, 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 facility 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 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] and by 2015 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
edit- List of individual monkeys
- Pockets Warhol, a capuchin monkey also housed at Story Book Farm
References
edit- ^ a b "Our Residents: Old World Monkeys". Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Kilkenny, Kate (December 12, 2012). "The IKEA Monkey Story? It's Complicated". Slate. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Kane, Laura; Izri, Touria (December 10, 2012). "Stylish primate charms Toronto shoppers". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hui, Ann (September 23, 2013). "Darwin the 'IKEA monkey' to remain in animal sanctuary, judge rules". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Kindelan, Katie (December 11, 2012). "'Ikea Monkey' Owner Vows to Fight for Primate's Return". ABC News. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Kane, Laura (December 16, 2012). "Ikea Monkey: Darwin's owner in legal battle to get him back". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Mendoza, Dorrine (September 13, 2013). "Judge rules IKEA monkey must remain at sanctuary". CNN. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Gallant, Jacques (September 13, 2013). "Darwin the Ikea monkey: Former owner loses court battle for custody". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Ballingall, Alex (January 17, 2014). "Ikea monkey 'mom' ordered to pay $83,000 in legal fees". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Perkel, Colin (February 28, 2014). "Battle over ownership of Ikea monkey finally over as 'mom' gives up appeal". CTV News. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Gallant, Jacques (January 21, 2015). "Former owner of Ikea monkey defends latest primate purchases". The Toronto Star. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ Alberga, Hannah (December 9, 2022). "The Ikea monkey was spotted 10 years ago. This is where he is now". CP24. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Notopoulos, Katie (December 9, 2022). "10 Years Later, The Ikea Monkey Is Thriving". BuzzFeed. Retrieved January 22, 2023.