Battle for Toronto’s Ikea monkey harkens back to simpler times

A video showing an adorable fellow gallivanting around Toronto has captured the attention of the world and the ongoing legal fallout will begin in court today, when Yasmin Nakhuda asks for her monkey back.

That’s right, a lawsuit over who should legally possess Darwin the Ikea Monkey begins today. Just don't call it a custody battle. I'm begging you all not to call it a custody battle.

CBC News reports that Darwin's self-described mother is seeking an order to recover possessions of personal property.

She alleges that she was tricked by animal services officers to surrender ownership of Darwin after the admittedly adorable primate captured the hearts and minds of folks around the world by getting loose and taking a wander through the parking lot of a Toronto Ikea store last year.

Wearing a shearling coat! It was a simpler time when Toronto's biggest concern was the exploits of a fashionable monkey.

[ Related: Ikea monkey trial set to start; 'mom' alleges she was tricked ]

Guess what we learned? People love monkeys dressed up as humans.

But Toronto bylaws are less forgiving on the issue, making it illegal for any resident to possess a monkey as a pet.

Darwin was seized and taken to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont., where he has remained.

Nakhuda meantime has mounted a legal and public campaign to win Darwin back. She has appeared in court twice seeking to get him back on an interim basis.

She has held rallies, and vowed to move out of the city to an area where monkey ownership is allowed.

[ Pulse of Canada: Who should have Darwin the Ikea monkey? ]

Nakhuda also published a children's book about starring Darwin, with the proceeds going to fund her challenge.

That legal challenge started in earnest today. Nakhuda appeared in an Oshawa, Ont., court to request her monkey back.

The sanctuary, meantime, has dropped allegations that Nakhuda's family abused Darwin. The Canadian Press quotes a lawyer saying the allegations were withdrawn in order to keep the trial short.

This whole thing should be wrapped up by early June. At which time we will know whether the "monkey mom" gets her Darling Darwin back, or if the animal sanctuary will continue to care for the primate.

And Toronto will have to find a new sideshow.