TORONTO, Ont. – The former owner of the infamous “Ikea Monkey” is hosting a fundraising dinner and publishing a children’s book to help with the legal costs of her custody battle with the primate sanctuary.
Yasmin Nakhuda, who calls herself Darwin’s mother, said the fight to reunite with the Japanese macaque is costly.
She is suing the Story Book Farm primate sanctuary, where the monkey now lives.
“Darwin is part of us. It’s very difficult to forget.”
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Listen: 680News reporter Momin Qureshi chats with Yasmin Nakhuda
But despite the legal costs, she will continue her efforts, she said.
“I know he loves me and I know I love him. I love him and I will always love him and I will try my best to get him back home.”
“It’s been very hard. We’ve tried twice and we’ve lost twice,” she said.
“We are not going to give up. Giving up is not an option.”
Nakhuda said they have sold nearly half of the 250 tickets for an April 6 fundraising dinner at Manchurian Madurai in Mississauga for $75 each.
That night, she will also release the first of 12 children’s books starring Darwin.
“I thought maybe I should for myself — my own way of giving myself therapy — write things about him where I can imagine him being happy, doing the mischievous things he normally does.”
Darwin made headlines worldwide last year when he was found frolicking in a North York Ikea parking lot, sporting a faux-shearling coat.
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I feel sorry for what this sanctuary has gone through. At least they now have supporters that have started their own FaceBook page in support of the work they do. (Supporters of Storybook Farm Primate Sanctuary)
I am sure Darwin is better off at the sancturay nowadays where he gets to be who he really needs to be instead of being turned into something he is not. He is not a circus animal nor a human being. Unfortunately this is hard for Mrs Yakuda to understand that.
How long has it been since Darwin is at the sanctuary? He must have forgotten about this wingnut already and I think he must be happier there being himself than being forced to be something that he’s not.
Who cares! Get a Life
Agree with all the comments so far. Would the 125 current ticket holders like to explain themselves? Who contributes to such nonsense? We also need to remember that owning this creature is against the law.
Wow, a children’s book about a curious and mischievous monkey. That’s original.
Somebody throw that monkey in a jungle already, so much money is being wasted on this c**p.
Since she claims to be his “mother”, perhaps she can move in to the monkey house with her “son”. Problem solved.
Maybe I will donate to help her get some counselling to realize she is NOT this poor animals mother.
But she is a lawyer, so she’s raising money to pay herself the 130k spent on defending Darwin in the past 3 months. With that estimate, she makes over 500k/yr?!?
I hope taxpayers are not gonna pay for this non sense ! Let her pay out of her pocket and have her head examine too !
Jeez, just get over it and get a gold fish!
I couldn’t help but notice it looked like she had a total makeover the last time she was on the news.
By now, the monkey has forgotten her and has been living a more normal life for the past three months. She should never get him back.
On the contrary, I’m now donating to the primate sanctuary, to help with THEIR legal bills in fighting this ridiculous, ignorant, dangerous person.
Not a bad idea. I think I’m going to donate to the sanctuary too. This woman needs a news blackout implemented on her.