Darwin, the Japanese macaque famous for his escapade in a Toronto Ikea parking lot, clearly recognizes cameras and swiftly evades them within his enclosure. Having endured the limelight from a young age, the 13-year-old primate was discovered as a baby in 2012 at the Ikea parking lot in North York, clad in a diaper and shearling coat before being rescued by animal services. He has since resided at the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont.
Upon Darwin’s arrival at the sanctuary, Executive Director Daina Liepa, who was a volunteer at the time, noticed peculiarities in his behavior from viral videos. She observed that Darwin, usually a quadruped as Japanese macaques are, was seen walking on two feet, suggesting discomfort with his ill-fitting attire. Liepa attributes Darwin’s shyness around strangers in adulthood to his early immersion in a human environment, where he was compelled to interact against his will.
Celebrating the 13th anniversary of Darwin’s sanctuary life, Liepa shared that he now enjoys swinging indoors and indulging in grapes. Plans are underway to introduce him to a fellow resident, Chiquita, to foster companionship. Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, the sole primate-focused sanctuary in Canada, is currently at full capacity with 24 monkeys and lemurs.
Despite the increasing demand for sanctuary services, Liepa revealed that they recently had to decline two monkeys due to lack of space. The influx of new primates often requires immediate medical attention upon arrival, highlighting the dire consequences of the exotic animal trade. Sanctuaries like Story Book bear the burden of caring for animals rescued from zoos, research facilities, and the pet trade, with zoos being a significant source of referrals.
Advocating for stricter regulations to curb the exotic animal trade, animal rights lawyer Camille Labchuk emphasized the need for provincial laws in Ontario to safeguard animals from exploitation. She estimates that hundreds of thousands of exotic animals, including primates, birds, and reptiles, have been trafficked in the province due to lax ownership restrictions, perpetuating a cycle of abuse and neglect.
As Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary endeavors to expand its facilities through fundraising efforts, Liepa lamented the necessity of sanctuaries like theirs, where captive animals find solace but often spend their entire lives. She expressed hope for a future where sanctuaries are unnecessary, and animals are not subjected to captivity against their will.
The struggle to provide a safe haven for rescued primates underscores the urgent need for comprehensive animal welfare legislation to address the rampant exploitation and trafficking within the exotic pet industry.