Ikea monkey staying in animal sanctuary, not returning to owner

A judge has ruled the "Ikea monkey" will remain in an animal sanctuary and won't be returning to its owner.

The Ikea monkey made news last year after being found in a coat and diaper by itself in a Toronto Ikea. It had escaped its crate and was looking for its owner.

It is illegal in Toronto to own a monkey and the owner was fined $240 and the monkey taken to an animal sanctuary.

And that is where the monkey, named Darwin, will be staying, The Globe and Mail reports. Ontario Superior Court Judge Mary Valle dismissed Yasmin Nakhuda's case as she's been trying to get Darwin back. She had been suing Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, where Darwin now lives.

Nakhuda lost ownership the second the "wild animal" left the car and was taken in by authorities, the judge ruled.

According to The Telegraph, Nakhuda believes she was tricked into giving up Darwin when signing a consent form.

Judge Valle felt that Nakhuda might have been "upset, but was not unduly influenced" when signing the consent form.

The Globe notes that Nakhuda let Darwin sleep in her bed and had dozens of YouTube videos of her and Darwin and she released a book about Darwin to help cover costs.

image: YouTube screenshot

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