It appears losing custody of Darwin the Ikea monkey in 2012 has not stopped his former owner from picking up new primates.
According to a friend of Yasmin Nakhuda, Darwin’s former owner, the Kawartha Lakes woman has purchased two new Japanese monkeys from Northwood Sanctuary in Seagrave, Ont.
Darwin made headlines around the world when he was found wandering around a North York Ikea parking lot in a tiny Shearling coat.
Toronto Animal Services seized the monkey in accordance with a Toronto bylaw that prohibits residents from owning primates.
Nakhuda took her custody battle to court but ultimately dropped the lawsuit. Darwin remains in the care of Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont.
Nakhuda’s friend Noah Escott told CP24 that the monkeys look healthy and are happy on Nakhuda’s property, which he says has both indoor and outdoor enclosures.
In a news release issued by Animal Justice Canada Legislative Fund, the group says that the fact Nakhuda was able to purchase new primates highlights “inadequate exotic animal laws” in Ontario.
"Although Toronto bylaws prohibit owning primates, Nakhuda now lives in the Kawartha region, which does not have bylaws against owning monkeys," Camille Labchuk, director of legal advocacy for Animal Justice Canada Legislative Fund, said in a written statement.
The animal rights group is calling for province-wide laws around the ownership and sale of exotic pets.
“Municipalities have been forced to pick up the slack, and the result is an inconsistent patchwork of bylaws that allows private pet collectors to keep primates and other dangerous animals in many areas," Labchuk said.
"Consistent, province-wide rules are the only way to protect public safety and animal welfare.”
Story Book Farm, who Animal Justice says is attempting to purchase Northwood Sanctuary, is expected to release a statement later tonight.
