I, Darwin: A Spoken Chronicle of the IKEA Monkey Incident

Similar to other thriving retail chains, IKEA ensures a consistent shopping atmosphere. At their North York, Ontario, branch on 15 Provost Drive, customers encounter two expansive floors filled with ready-to-assemble furniture. The aroma of Swedish meatballs from the in-store food market fills the air. Adjacent to the entrance on the ground floor, a play area keeps restless children entertained as parents navigate with carts loaded with furniture.

On December 9, 2012, visitors anticipating a routine IKEA trip were met with an unexpected sight. A small primate, clad in a stylish faux-shearling coat and a diaper, darted between vehicles in the store’s two-level parking garage. Standing just over a foot tall, the sharp-eyed animal surveyed the gathering crowd, searching for its owner, while onlookers captured photos.

Within an hour, animal control arrived to take the primate into custody. By the end of the day, the incident had captured global attention, becoming a viral news sensation.

Initially mistaken by some news sources for a capuchin monkey, the distressed creature turned out to be a Japanese snow macaque named Darwin. His eye-catching winter attire and unexpected appearance at IKEA quickly made him an internet sensation, earning him a spot as one of the year’s most viral memes. In the aftermath, it was revealed that he had fled from his owner’s vehicle, was promptly taken to a primate sanctuary, and sparked a heated legal debate over ownership: Can a monkey, as a wild animal, truly be owned by anyone?

Darwin’s owner would later spend $250,000 to resolve the legal dispute, while the primate sanctuary faced severe backlash, including death threats. The ensuing court case became one of the most notable monkey trials in the past century. Below is the firsthand account of those who were directly involved in the incident.

I: “DID SOMEONE LOSE A MONKEY AT IKEA?”

With just two weeks remaining until Christmas, the North York IKEA was bustling with shoppers. Many parked in the two-story attached lot, which included a covered entryway with an elevator to the lower level. Around 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 9, a few customers spotted a small figure moving around the parking area.

Yasmin Nakhuda (Owner, Darwin): Darwin often accompanied me on shopping trips. However, during our last visit to IKEA, a staff member informed me he wasn’t allowed inside. On that day, we intended to make a quick stop and took every measure to keep him occupied and secure while we shopped. It was only the second time we left him alone, and we ended up taking longer than planned.

Bronwyn Page (Shopper, Saw the Monkey): The store was packed that day. My sister and I went to purchase a Christmas tree and spent a while searching for parking. As we exited the car, we noticed a group of people gathered around something small. It was hopping around, and at first glance, I thought it was a rabbit.

Joe Fiorillo (Animal Control Officer, Toronto Animal Services, via deposition): [Dispatch mentioned] a monkey in a jacket and diaper running around the upper parking level. I initially thought it was a prank.

Lisa Lin (Shopper): I was at IKEA with my family. We parked on the upper level because a police officer was stationed near the entrance on the first floor, so we opted for the second floor instead.

Nakhuda: He had a soft-sided crate with a zipper, which he usually couldn’t escape from, but this time he managed to tear it open. He was secured in our SUV, but he figured out how to unlock the car from the inside—something we never anticipated, as we hadn’t seen him do it before.

Page: The monkey was making noises and appeared frightened. It darted between people, while some tried to corner or catch it.

Stephanie Yim (Shopper): I noticed a small head popping up and down near a car I had parked next to. I was genuinely shocked to see it was a monkey.

Nakhuda: I had no option but to take Darwin with me wherever I went. He would become extremely anxious if I left him alone.

Lin: The monkey was dressed quite stylishly.

Page: It was an incredibly strange sight. The monkey was tiny, almost like an infant. I would have stayed longer, but my sister wasn’t interested. I took a few pictures, and then we headed into the store. The whole experience was surreal, and I kept wondering, “What on earth just happened?”

Nakhuda: We were completely panicked, and I began frantically searching the parking lot until someone mentioned they had seen a small monkey heading back toward the store.

Page: Many believe the monkey was inside the store, which likely added to the hilarity of the situation.

Lin: When we arrived, the monkey had already been contained in the entryway. It took me a moment to process what I was seeing. Monkeys aren’t something you typically encounter in everyday life.

Fiorillo: A crowd had gathered outside, snapping photos. As I drove up the ramp, I immediately thought, “Well, now we’ve got a monkey on our hands.”

Lin: The monkey was darting around, clearly distressed. I snapped a photo through the glass door but didn’t linger. I didn’t want to add to its stress.

Yim: He appeared lost and was clearly searching for someone he recognized. He didn’t seem aggressive, just confused and frightened.

Fiorillo: I entered to evaluate the situation and asked the security guard, “How’s he doing?” [The guard replied], “Oh, he’s fine. If you cover him with a blanket, he calms right down.” And sure enough, he did.

Lin: By then, the officer was inside the entryway with the monkey. They secured the automatic door to prevent it from opening.

Page: I waited until we returned to the car to tweet the photo. My sister suggested, “You should share that.”

Fiorillo: I’d never seen a monkey roaming around Toronto before. He wasn’t causing trouble, though. He let out a few cries, likely searching for his owner, but he didn’t harm anyone and seemed more frightened than anything.

Page: As we left, I noticed someone speaking with a security guard. She appeared very distressed. I assumed she might have been the owner.

Indeed, she was. Nakhuda, a real estate attorney in Toronto, had acquired Darwin just five months earlier from an exotic animal dealer recommended by a client. The seller, identified only as “Ayaz,” fulfilled Nakhuda’s desire to own a Japanese snow macaque after she watched videos of the species online. Nakhuda admits she was aware of potential issues with keeping a monkey in the city but believed she would only receive a warning and be advised to relocate to a suitable farm—a move she was already planning.

After purchasing the exotic animal from Ayaz for $5000 and bringing him home, she quickly realized that Darwin—named after Charles Darwin—would demand an extraordinary amount of care.

Nakhuda: Darwin would bite and resist being handled. I expected him to adjust within a few days, similar to a newly adopted dog or cat, but he showed no signs of improvement. Instead, he became increasingly bold and aggressive.

Katherine Cronin, Ph.D. (Research Scientist, Lincoln Park Zoo): As macaques approach maturity, they often distance themselves from humans and exhibit heightened aggression. This can pose significant safety risks.

Nakhuda: Surprisingly, he calmed down the day I tried to return him to Ayaz. The moment he saw Ayaz and understood I was giving him back, he clung to me with complete trust, as if pleading not to be sent away.

Cronin: Macaques naturally seek a maternal figure. If their mother isn’t present, they may form a strong attachment to another individual if no alternatives exist. It’s entirely plausible that a primate would feel deeply distressed if separated from their primary caregiver.

Nakhuda: We were informed that if caught with a monkey, we’d simply be asked to move him elsewhere; no fines were mentioned. We had always intended to relocate to a farm outside the city and were assured that Ayaz would care for Darwin until we were ready to take him back.

Cronin: Primates are not suitable as pets. There’s no debate about it. It’s harmful for both humans and the primates themselves.

Nakhuda’s YouTube videos of Darwin being bathed and having his teeth brushed eventually gained widespread attention as his popularity grew. At the time, however, his image as a seemingly innocent, lost monkey allowed the internet to craft its own narratives. A Craigslist “Missed Connections” post supposedly from Darwin appeared, followed by a Flash video game. Page’s photo circulated with the caption, “Umm saw a monkey in the #ikea parking lot.”

Lin: It wasn’t until hours later that I fully grasped the situation. The story exploded into international news, which completely caught me off guard.

Don Caldwell (Administrator, KnowYourMeme.com): Prior to Darwin, I can’t recall any monkey memes that gained significant attention.

Page: When the media asked what I witnessed, I simply told them I saw a monkey darting around. That was the extent of it.

Caldwell: The coat played a massive role in the meme’s appeal. People enjoy attributing human traits to animals. The IKEA setting also added to its charm. Memes thrive on catchy names, and “IKEA monkey” was undeniably memorable.

Page: The frenzy continued for several days. I gave interviews for TV, radio, and even BBC World News. It was surreal—they treated me like an authority, even though I only saw the monkey for about a minute.

Caldwell: It quickly gained traction on r/funny on Reddit, earning a significant number of upvotes, which greatly boosted its visibility.

Page: I was even recognized on the subway. Someone asked, “Are you Bronwyn Page?”

Lin: I’m a big fan of memes, so having my photo turned into one was pretty exciting.

Caldwell: While Bronwyn posted the original photo, the image of him behind glass became the iconic one. He just looks so forlorn.

Page: My favorite meme was the one about a friend forgetting to pick up ‘Carl.’

As Darwin’s fame skyrocketed online, Nakhuda was desperately trying to retrieve him from animal control. Monkeys have always been banned in Toronto. With Ayaz offering no help, she and her husband, Samar, rushed to Toronto Animal Services. Their conversations—or lack thereof—would later become a contentious issue in an Ontario court.

Fiorillo: The owner apparently called the front desk.

Nakhuda: We arrived at Toronto Animal Services and spent some time in the parking lot, trying to figure out the best way to get him back without causing any trouble.

Fiorillo: This happens often with banned animals. Goats, for example. Someone will come in and say, “I want my goat back.” But you can’t have the goat.

David Behan (Animal Control Officer, Toronto Animal Services, via deposition): I spoke with Ms. Nakhuda about Darwin, explaining that monkeys are prohibited under Toronto’s bylaws. Meanwhile, I consulted my supervisor to determine how to handle the situation.

Nakhuda: He claimed that I went to TAS to request Darwin be sent to a sanctuary, which is completely untrue. There was no confusion. I made it very clear that I wanted Darwin returned to me.

Behan: [Supervisor Carl Bandow] asked if there was any possibility of having Ms. Nakhuda sign over the animal to Toronto Animal Services.

Fiorillo: [Behan] explained, “You have the option to sign him over if you wish. You’re not obligated, but we’re prioritizing the animal’s safety and well-being,” which was a key point.

Behan: [I clarified] that by signing the document, she would be transferring ownership of the animal to Toronto Animal Services.

Nakhuda: [Behan] used every means at his disposal to pressure me into signing documents so he could relocate the monkey—ostensibly temporarily, since TAS lacked the facilities to care for a baby monkey—to a primate sanctuary. He only allowed me to see Darwin and check on him if I signed the transfer papers.

During a January 2013 deposition, Behan refuted claims that he pressured Nakhuda into signing the surrender form. In court later that year, he testified that while TAS occasionally returned exotic animals to their owners after signing surrender forms, the decision to keep Darwin was made by his supervisor, Carl Bandow. When questioned if Nakhuda seemed willing to surrender her monkey, Behan answered, “No.” Nakhuda later stated in court that she believed she was signing a form for disease testing and was unaware it would transfer full ownership of Darwin to TAS.

Fiorillo: I was taken aback when I returned [to the room] and saw that she had signed the form.

Behan: She was visibly distressed and still crying. Our shelter staff, who handle animal care, asked Ms. Nakhuda if she could go to the back and remove the diaper from the monkey, as it was still wearing one.

Fiorillo: Once the form is signed, we can relocate the animal to a more suitable environment than the shelter. We aren’t equipped to care for monkeys here.

II: DARWIN ON TRIAL

After being seized by Toronto Animal Services, Darwin was transferred to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, a refuge for animals in Sunderland, Ontario. He soon became the most notorious monkey in Canadian history—a charismatic figure that highlighted the thriving exotic animal trade, considered one of the largest illegal markets globally.

Daina Liepa (Co-Owner, Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary): The primates we care for typically come from three main sources. First, the exotic animal trade, which many don’t realize is still active. Second, research laboratories. Third, unregulated roadside zoos.

Sherri Delaney (Former Owner, Story Book): People acquire these animals due to insufficient regulations. Someone thinks, ‘I’d love to own something like that,’ and the demand for buying and breeding increases. You can even purchase them online.

Liepa: Many people overlook the origins of baby monkeys. They are typically taken from their mothers, often transported covertly. The mortality rate during transit is high, and some don’t survive the journey.

Cronin: Infant snow monkeys remain closely bonded to their mothers for the first year, nursing for up to 12 months. They cling to their mothers, learning essential behaviors. This maternal bond is crucial for their normal development and plays a significant role in their future growth.

Delaney: In unregulated zoos, if an animal falls ill, it might disturb visitors, so the animal is often removed from display and stored away. We’ve taken in animals from such situations, as well as former pets and those seized by authorities.

Liepa: Before Darwin, we had another famous monkey, Pockets Warhol, who is known for his painting.

Delaney: Pockets originally came from the U.S. He was brought to Canada as a pet and lived comfortably for years. His owner made great efforts to care for him, providing a cage, a heated space, a pet guinea pig, and even a TV. Eventually, she realized she couldn’t care for him in her later years, so he came to us.

Liepa: Most monkeys are surrendered voluntarily. Darwin, however, was not.

Delaney: I first learned about Darwin when a volunteer spotted him on the news. Shortly after, Toronto Animal Services contacted me. From my perspective, they had legally seized Darwin, couldn’t care for him, and reached out to us. My first impression was how incredibly small he was.

Rachelle Hansen (Board Chair, Story Book): What stood out to me was his size—he was so tiny—and how visibly sad he appeared.

Liepa: People often purchase monkeys when they’re babies. No matter how much you warn them that monkeys aren’t suitable pets, it doesn’t sink in. They have incredibly powerful teeth, and some owners even have their canines removed to keep them. They’re also extremely strong.

Cronin: What humans might interpret as a smile on a primate’s face—whether it’s a macaque or a chimp—is often a fear grimace, according to primatologists. When they pull their lips back and show their teeth, it’s a sign of fear or submission, essentially saying, “I’m not a threat, don’t harm me.” On the other hand, an open-mouthed expression with wide eyes directed at you is a threat, signaling, “Back off, I’m uncomfortable.”

Hansen: From what I recall, Toronto Animal Services contacted the Toronto Zoo, but they either couldn’t or wouldn’t take him.

Delaney: The day Darwin arrived, I received a call from Yasmin [Nakhuda]. She wanted to come immediately, but I insisted she wait. I wanted Darwin to have a few days to adjust after all the chaos. She wasn’t happy with that, and the conversation ended abruptly.

Hansen: I gathered that the call didn’t go smoothly.

Cronin: In most situations, an animal’s well-being improves significantly when they are surrounded by others of their own species.

Delaney: I’m not sure why macaques are so popular as pets, with people raising them like children. Once they hit sexual maturity, they often become confused and aggressive.

Nakhuda argued that Story Book was exploiting Darwin to raise funds and awareness. Shortly after taking him in, they started a “Dollars for Darwin” campaign, portraying him as if he were speaking, saying, “A donation toward my care is my Christmas wish.”

Nakhuda: Story Book received a $15,000 donation from IKEA within the first week of Darwin’s arrival. From that point on, he became their main attraction. They quickly updated their website and began selling his photos and tickets to visit him. I was furious, hurt, and deeply saddened to see my baby being used for profit.

Hansen: IKEA contributed $10,000 to our sanctuary.

Liepa: As a charity, fundraising is a constant necessity. When Yasmin questions why we need to do this, the answer is simple: we’re always working to enhance the living conditions for the monkeys.

Delaney: The truth is, providing a proper diet, a heated barn, and other necessities costs a fortune. I’ve personally invested over $1 million into the sanctuary.

With no other options, Nakhuda filed a lawsuit against Story Book on December 14 [PDF], accusing them of unlawfully holding Darwin and requesting his return—or at least regular visitation—until the custody dispute could be resolved. As the case progressed, tensions escalated, and both sides hired legal representation.

Kevin Toyne (Attorney for Story Book): I had visited the sanctuary a few months before this incident and offered my legal services if they ever needed them. Later, when I saw online that a monkey had escaped at a Toronto IKEA, I thought, “I wonder if he’ll end up at the sanctuary,” and emailed them.

Delaney: There was genuine concern about whether we could afford a legal battle. Fortunately, Kevin, who had previously volunteered for us, stepped in to help.

Liepa: At the time, the board of directors had to consider whether we could financially handle the situation.

Hansen: We faced significant harassment on social media, with people leaving awful messages on Sherri’s personal voicemail. Some even waited at the end of our driveway, and I had cars following me. It was an incredibly stressful period.

Toyne: Both the sanctuary and its volunteers were subjected to harsh comments, and Yasmin also received a lot of negativity.

Nakhuda: While I became infamous, it didn’t impact my existing clients or daily operations, as most of my practice relies on repeat clients who were fully satisfied with my work and supported me unconditionally. However, the ordeal left me emotionally and financially drained.

Liepa: At the time, I was a volunteer. We received threats from people who believed Darwin’s previous owner was his mother and should be allowed to keep him.

Delaney: We received threats that someone intended to burn down the sanctuary. There was even a threat against my life. It was an exhausting experience for everyone involved.

Toyne: In Canada, powers are divided constitutionally between federal and provincial levels, similar to states. Animal regulation primarily falls under provincial jurisdiction. While federal rules govern importing monkeys, once they’re in the country, provincial laws take over. The issue is that most provinces lack specific statutes for exotic animals, leaving regulation to municipalities.

Delaney: Darwin’s condition improved steadily. He had caregivers with him frequently, spending hours each day helping him adjust to his new environment.

Hansen: We dedicated a lot of time to him, feeding him bottles and providing comfort. He had a Curious George stuffed toy that he adored.

Toyne: Yasmin argued that she never relinquished ownership, so the sanctuary had no right to keep him. The sanctuary’s stance was that once he escaped at IKEA, he was no longer hers.

Delaney: I was willing to consider a visitation plan if she approached it reasonably. It would have been beneficial for both her and Darwin. Unfortunately, she wasn’t prepared to take that stance.

In media statements, Nakhuda expressed her refusal to visit Darwin under conditions like supervision by sanctuary staff and wearing gloves. After failing to secure temporary or permanent custody, Darwin stayed at Story Book through mid-2013. The legal battle over his fate unfolded in the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, with hearings on May 30-31 and June 10-11, 2013.

Toyne: What stood out to me was the level of public interest. Media crews gathered outside the courthouse, which is rare in Canada outside of major criminal cases. The courtroom was filled to capacity every day.

Delaney: It was astonishing to me—truly shocking—that a monkey case generated so much media attention. In the same courthouse, cases involving domestic violence, homicide, and other serious matters were being heard. Yet, this case, which shouldn’t have even reached court, became the center of attention.

Page: People kept sending me updates about the trial. Acquaintances would approach me, asking for details about Darwin’s situation, as if I had insider knowledge.

Toyne: Yasmin consistently maintained that she still owned Darwin and had never relinquished ownership, meaning the sanctuary had no right to keep him.

Liepa: The case wasn’t about who could provide better care for Darwin, though we believed we could. It was fundamentally about property ownership.

Toyne: Our main argument revolved around the concept of property as it applies to wild animals. While domesticated or farm animals are treated like any other property—such as a book, chair, or car—wild animals are different. The legal doctrine of ferae naturae states that wild animals are only owned while in possession. If they escape, ownership transfers to whoever captures them.

Delaney: Initially, I think Darwin experienced some separation anxiety. But as time passed and the trial continued, he began to play, explore, and behave like any baby would.

Toyne: People often ask why the animal isn’t present in court if the case revolves around it. Centuries ago in England, animals were sometimes brought into courtrooms—donkeys in the witness box, for example. We don’t do that anymore. If Darwin had been brought to court, it likely would have caused chaos, given the strong emotions on both sides.

Hansen: It felt like a child custody battle, with Darwin caught in the middle. Bringing him to court would have been overwhelming for him.

Toyne: In this case, possession was everything. If someone had managed to steal Darwin, my client could have lost ownership.

After a long and tense wait, Justice Mary Vallee delivered her ruling [PDF] in September 2013. She concluded that Nakhuda understood she was signing a surrender form and that Darwin, as a wild animal, could only be owned by whoever currently possessed him—in this case, Story Book. Nakhuda appealed in October but chose to withdraw the appeal in February 2014.

Nakhuda: If I remember correctly, my legal fees totaled around $124,000, with an additional $83,000 in court costs awarded to the defendant. There were also roughly $22,000 in expenses for appeal opinions, along with costs for organizing fundraisers, selling T-shirts, and books—all of which resulted in significant financial losses.

Liepa: Toyne didn’t work entirely pro bono. We did cover some legal fees once the case concluded.

Toyne: My agreement with the sanctuary was to handle the case pro bono, but I would be entitled to recover costs if they were awarded.

Liepa: In 2015, Sherri decided to sell the sanctuary, prompting us to launch a major fundraising campaign to purchase the property. Relocating wasn’t an option—moving animals like a large baboon would require anesthesia, which we wanted to avoid.

III: AN ONGOING CONCERN

After Justice Vallee’s decision, Darwin became a permanent resident at Story Book, where he has lived since his arrival in December 2012. In 2015, Delaney sold the property, which stayed in its original location.

Liepa: Darwin is currently about two-thirds of his full adult size. He’s in his adolescent phase—full of energy, strength, and activity. He’s even strong enough to bend rebar.

Cronin: Monkeys that were once pets and spent less time with their biological mothers tend to be less outgoing than other primates. They often exhibit behavioral changes, such as reduced grooming and less interaction with groups.

Nakhuda: We firmly believe primates shouldn’t be confined behind bars, and the so-called sanctuary failed its mission by not providing Darwin with the home it promised. His interactions with other monkeys are limited to cages. He’ll never experience a hug again—and if you understand primates, you’d know how crucial physical contact is for their mental health.

Delaney: Let’s face it. Darwin was taken from his real mother, someone who shared his language. Yasmin was his caregiver, not his mother.

Liepa: Yasmin and her supporters accuse us of keeping monkeys in enclosures, but once they reach a certain age and sexual maturity, it’s a completely different situation. Try diapering a fully grown monkey.

Toyne: Snow macaques may appear friendly and gentle, but they’re almost entirely muscle with massive fangs. Anyone foolish enough to own one must realize they’re essentially bringing home something that could eventually kill them.

Nakhuda: What we find appalling is that people who’ve never owned monkeys assume that just because an organization is labeled a “sanctuary,” it’s best suited to care for the animal. Darwin is isolated, not truly with other monkeys—just caged beside them. He’s not roaming freely in a forest or any environment resembling his natural habitat. He’s a caged exhibit, used to solicit donations by a self-serving sanctuary.

Liepa: Darwin interacts with other monkeys through his enclosure. He’s next to a baboon named Pierre, and they groom each other. Pierre also helps teach him proper behavior, showing disapproval when Darwin misbehaves.

Cronin: Monkeys develop social behaviors by being around other monkeys. They’re inherently social animals.

Hansen: Introducing Darwin to other monkeys during the trial was risky because monkeys can be aggressive. If one had bitten him, Yasmin could have sued us for damaging what she considered her property. That’s why we couldn’t integrate him immediately.

Liepa: We’re waiting to bring in two or three lab monkeys to introduce to Darwin, giving him the family he’s missing. It’s the one thing he needs most.

Hansen: We’re working on acquiring two research monkeys around Darwin’s age, hoping to introduce them to him soon.

Liepa: People often ask, 'Are monkeys happy?' It’s not something easily measured or assessed. Monkeys, like humans, have diverse personalities—some are outgoing, while others are more reserved.

Hansen: He’s a bit shy, but he’s incredibly sweet. For some reason, he enjoys washing his grass.

Toyne: I don’t foresee any major changes to property laws. For now, animals are considered property. We own them, slaughter them, consume them, and sometimes treat them like surrogate children. In this case, the law was clear about property ownership, and the judge’s ruling reflected that.

Nakhuda moved to Kawartha Lakes, an area without primate ownership restrictions. After the case concluded, she obtained more snow macaques. (Kawartha Lakes later banned exotic animals, but Nakhuda and other existing owners were grandfathered in.)

Nakhuda: We decided to get another Japanese baby male snow macaque as soon as we realized the trial was lost and Darwin wouldn’t return. Even if he had come back, the bond would never be the same after such a long separation. I needed to move forward. I was haunted by his absence, missing him deeply and aching for him. Without closure, getting another Darwin became an obsession.

Hansen: She ended up acquiring two more monkeys.

Nakhuda: Nearly three years later, we found Caesar at an animal auction. He was a perfect replica of Darwin. We didn’t hesitate. By then, we had moved to a farm where monkey ownership was allowed. It felt like a miracle. I believe I proved my love, and it was only fair that I got what I longed for. While Caesar hasn’t completely filled the void Darwin left, he has brought light to the darkness. I felt truly blessed.

As the fifth anniversary of Darwin’s IKEA escapade approaches, his legacy as both a meme and a focal point in the exotic animal trade debate endures.

Liepa: The trial undoubtedly raised awareness about the exotic animal trade.

Toyne: The level of public interest in the monkey’s fate was somewhat unexpected.

Hansen: IKEA celebrated its 30th anniversary in North York and featured Darwin on their campaign poster. When we reached out to them later for fundraising, they declined, saying it was a one-time thing. I even saw a butter sculpture of Darwin at the Canadian National Exhibition on Facebook.

Delaney: I see it as a tragedy. Darwin is just one of many. It was an incredibly stressful period. Would I go through it again? Absolutely. My goal now is to influence lawmakers to prevent more cases like Darwin’s.

Liepa: Laws regarding exotic pets vary widely across Canada and even within Ontario. We advocate for municipalities to recognize that keeping exotic pets is a bad idea.

Cronin: I completely understand the fascination with primates. It’s why I’ve dedicated 20 years to studying and observing them. Watching their interactions, understanding their communication, and exploring their social dynamics is incredibly fulfilling. As primates ourselves, we naturally feel drawn to connect with them.

Hansen: Once a month, we open our doors to the public, and visitors often ask about Darwin. But what they really want is to see him wearing his iconic coat.

Toyne: I often joke that I was part of the second most famous and significant Darwin case in history.

Page: People frequently bring it up with me. It’s become a defining part of my story—I’m the one who spotted the monkey.