Mother of Darwin, the Ikea Monkey, Says ‘I Would Never Have Given Darwin Up’

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The former owner, and self-professed “mother,” of Darwin the Ikea monkey, Yasmin Nakhuda, was seen sobbing several times during her testimony in an Oshawa courthouse on Friday. Nakhuda has sued the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary to acquire custody of the monkey, where Darwin was transferred after being caught in an escape at an Ikea parking lot.

The lawyer representing sanctuary, Kevin Toyne, told the court that Nakhuda has voluntarily signed a surrender form which implies that she willingly gave up Darwin to Toronto Animal Services citing reasons that she was facing difficulty in disciplining him or finding a veterinarian. However, on the other hand, Nakhuda asserted that she completely misunderstood the form and took it is a document to transfer him for disease testing and to a sanctuary. Nakhuda legally filed the lawsuit less than a week after the monkey was seized. She mentioned in court that “I would never have given Darwin up. It’s inconceivable. He’s part of us. He’s one of us,” asking “why would I give him away?”

Furthermore, Nakhuda alleged that an animal control officer blackmailed her with criminal charges, asserting that there were health concerns related to keeping the pet. She alleged that the officer informed him she could only see Darwin one last time only if she signed. Hence, she stated that “I had to sign it,” explaining that it was necessary to see Darwin because he had “anxiety issues.”