Story of Toronto's 'Ikea monkey' turned into book

The former owner of the 'Ikea monkey' launched a children's book about the monkey in Mississauga, Ont. on Saturday, April 6, 2013.

The tale of Toronto’s Ikea monkey has been turned into a children’s book, with sales intended to raise money for the custody battled launched by the primate’s former owner.

Yasmin Nakhuda, the self-proclaimed surrogate mother of the now-famous Japanese macaque named Darwin, launched the first instalment of a 12-book series in Mississauga, Ont., on Saturday. Tickets to the dinner-and-book-launch event cost $75.

Nakhuda said the book series – called the Adventures of Darling Darwin – is her way of keeping the famed monkey’s spirit alive.

“It’s therapeutic for me to see him happy, and you could see tonight at this party how many people love him and how many people want him back, want him free,” Nakhuda told CTV Toronto on Saturday.

Darwin captured international headlines last December when he was caught roaming an Ikea parking lot in North York wearing a miniature shearling coat and a diaper.

He was turned over to Toronto’s animal services and was later relocated to a primate sanctuary, as it’s illegal to keep monkeys as pets in Toronto.

Nakhuda, a real-estate lawyer, claims that she was tricked into surrendering Darwin and is now suing Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary for custody.

Nakhuda said she bonded with Darwin and she is determined to get him back.

“Only when you form that bond and you understand that relationship that you can feel what the loss is,” she said.

The sanctuary has alleged that Darwin was abused while he was in Nakhuda’s care.

The allegations have not been proven in court.