When we last saw Yasmin Nakhuda, the self-proclaimed “Monkey Mom” accused Toronto Animal Services of “unlawfully” taking her Japanese macaque Darwin while she was shopping at Ikea. Now, the custody battle has taken yet an uglier turn.
Two weeks ago, the Story Brook Farm Primate Sanctuary, Darwin’s current caretaker, claims Nakhuda abused Darwin through acts of strangulation, beating the monkey with a wooden spoon and plans for dental extraction. Nakhuda’s lawyer vehemently denies these accusations on behalf of his heartbroken client. “She holds him by the neck to keep him still or above water,” says lawyer Ted Charney. “[Story Brook founder Sherri] Delaney has extreme views about people owning a monkey. What the community considers normal pet handling, she considers abuse.”
Independent of her legal representation, Nakhuda has responded to the allegations on the digital front. No stranger to exploiting her home monkey videos to win over public opinion, Monkey Mom busted out the big guns this weekend with the tearjerking tribute video below titled “From the heart of Darwin,” backed by Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds.” Collins likely did not sign off on Nakhuda’s use of his Oscar-nominated ballad, but that’s the chance she’s got to take.
The court date has been set for January 31.
[National Post/Canadian Press/video via Yasmin Nakhuda]
January 28, 2013 at 10:00 pm, Jim Anderson said:
As innocent civilians continue to die in any number of foreign rat holes thanks to USA involvement!
January 30, 2013 at 9:23 pm, Lex Dameron said:
And people like Jim stand up for honor killins, stonings, and slavery and cheer.
January 30, 2013 at 11:02 pm, Justine Quinn said:
What a total load of 'crap'….Darwin looks far from abused!!!!…Children, dogs, often manage to escape from a lock car. Do they get their family taken from them!!!
February 01, 2013 at 10:34 pm, Donnie Spradley Hazle said:
Anyone who leaves their children or pets in an unattended locked car deserves to have them taken away from them.
February 02, 2013 at 12:25 am, Wendy Masters said:
Story Brook founder Sherry is a total moron! her place is for unwanted animals and CLEARLY Darwin is a well loved wanted animal. Lets all vote for the judge and this Sherry to surrender their animals as Iam quite sure if they have them…they have gotten loose at one time or another..what a big pile of Monkey Poo! Give Darwin back to the only mommy he knows…..the bunch of home wreckers should Piss off!