Darwin, a Japanese macaque known for his escapade in a Toronto Ikea parking lot, exhibits a keen awareness of cameras as he swiftly evades them within his enclosure. The 13-year-old monkey, found as a baby in 2012 wearing a diaper and coat, has since resided at the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont.
Daina Liepa, the sanctuary’s executive director, recalls Darwin’s arrival and notes his unusual behavior of walking on two feet, a departure from the natural quadrupedal movement of Japanese macaques. Liepa attributes Darwin’s shyness around strangers to his upbringing, suggesting that his forced interactions with humans may have affected his comfort level.
Celebrating Darwin’s 13th anniversary at the sanctuary, Liepa reveals his current fondness for an indoor swing and grapes, hinting at a potential companionship with another resident, Chiquita, also a Japanese macaque. However, the sanctuary, housing 24 primates and lemurs at full capacity, recently had to decline two incoming monkeys due to space constraints.
Primates like Darwin often find their way to the sanctuary through animal welfare services, with zoos being frequent contributors. Liepa emphasizes the financial burden sanctuaries bear in caring for surrendered animals and calls for stricter provincial laws to combat the exotic animal trade in Ontario.
In response to the challenges of limited space and financial resources, Story Book is embarking on a million-dollar fundraising campaign to expand its facilities for more monkeys. While sanctuaries like Story Book provide essential care for captive animals, Liepa laments the necessity of their existence, emphasizing the plight of animals who have no alternative but sanctuary life.
