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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2012/dec/10/ikea-monkey-canada-famous-shopper
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#IkeaMonkey: what we know about Canada's most famous shopper | #IkeaMonkey: what we know about Canada's most famous shopper |
(10 days later) | |
The story of the Ikea monkey – a tiny, confused and seemingly lost pet monkey running round the entrance lobby at the Swedish furniture store in Toronto has taken the Internet by storm. The hashtag #Ikeamonkey has been trending on Twitter and the parody account @IkeaMonkey has thousands of followers. Last night, however, not much was known about the seven-month-old primate. Today, new details on the rhesus macaques we now know as Darwin, surfaced after the Toronto Animal Services (TAS) held a press conference in Toronto. *If you're reading this on Facebook, click "Read this story on The Guardian" on the top right side of this page to see embedded tweets and links in this post* | The story of the Ikea monkey – a tiny, confused and seemingly lost pet monkey running round the entrance lobby at the Swedish furniture store in Toronto has taken the Internet by storm. The hashtag #Ikeamonkey has been trending on Twitter and the parody account @IkeaMonkey has thousands of followers. Last night, however, not much was known about the seven-month-old primate. Today, new details on the rhesus macaques we now know as Darwin, surfaced after the Toronto Animal Services (TAS) held a press conference in Toronto. *If you're reading this on Facebook, click "Read this story on The Guardian" on the top right side of this page to see embedded tweets and links in this post* |
Here's what we know so far: | Here's what we know so far: |
Name: Darwin. I repeat, his name is Darwin. | Name: Darwin. I repeat, his name is Darwin. |
#IkeaMonkey is named Darwin.Survival of the fittest fashionista. | #IkeaMonkey is named Darwin.Survival of the fittest fashionista. |
Origin: Thanks to Global News Toronto, we've learned that little Darwin is a rhesus macaques, a breed of monkey native to Asia commonly used for scientific research. Darwin and his owners are from Montreal, where he's lived with them for five months. | Origin: Thanks to Global News Toronto, we've learned that little Darwin is a rhesus macaques, a breed of monkey native to Asia commonly used for scientific research. Darwin and his owners are from Montreal, where he's lived with them for five months. |
Age: Seven months. "He is a baby and should be treated as such," said one TAS official. | Age: Seven months. "He is a baby and should be treated as such," said one TAS official. |
How'd he end up in Ikea? The details aren't clear. Toronto police staff sergeant Ed Dzingala believes little Darwin was inside a cage in a car parked at the store in North York and somehow managed to free himself. | How'd he end up in Ikea? The details aren't clear. Toronto police staff sergeant Ed Dzingala believes little Darwin was inside a cage in a car parked at the store in North York and somehow managed to free himself. |
Current state of mind: Agitated. One TAS official also noted that Darwin is being very quiet. Could be due to stress. | Current state of mind: Agitated. One TAS official also noted that Darwin is being very quiet. Could be due to stress. |
What's the deal with his owners?: We don't know much. After TAS collected Darwin at Ikea, his owners came forward yesterday and have since officially transferred ownership to Toronto Animal Services. They've been fined $240 and apparently didn't know it was illegal to have him. | What's the deal with his owners?: We don't know much. After TAS collected Darwin at Ikea, his owners came forward yesterday and have since officially transferred ownership to Toronto Animal Services. They've been fined $240 and apparently didn't know it was illegal to have him. |
What's next for Darwin?: A move is definitely in his future. The TAS says it's been exploring animal sanctuaries and other alternatives. He is not likely to stay in Toronto. | What's next for Darwin?: A move is definitely in his future. The TAS says it's been exploring animal sanctuaries and other alternatives. He is not likely to stay in Toronto. |
Is he eating?: Yes. Although Darwin is having a bit of of a tough time, TAS officials say that he's eating well. They're apparently feeding him fruit and waiting to obtain "monkey chow". | Is he eating?: Yes. Although Darwin is having a bit of of a tough time, TAS officials say that he's eating well. They're apparently feeding him fruit and waiting to obtain "monkey chow". |
I can haz #Ikeamonkey? NO. No you cannot. Just take it from the TAS: | I can haz #Ikeamonkey? NO. No you cannot. Just take it from the TAS: |
Officials with Toronto Animal Services says it is not appropriate to have a monkey as a pet. Not safe for the animal. #Ikeamonkey #Darwin | Officials with Toronto Animal Services says it is not appropriate to have a monkey as a pet. Not safe for the animal. #Ikeamonkey #Darwin |
Now what? The story continues, and we'll keep you updated as more comes in. In the meantime, watch this excruciatingly cute/tragic video of little Darwin resplendent in his diaper and shearling coat, hopping around Ikea's cement floor desperately trying to call the elevator. | Now what? The story continues, and we'll keep you updated as more comes in. In the meantime, watch this excruciatingly cute/tragic video of little Darwin resplendent in his diaper and shearling coat, hopping around Ikea's cement floor desperately trying to call the elevator. |
*Thanks to live tweeting from several Toronto reporters like Katie Simpson, who have enabled us to put together the latest need-to-know information about Darwin. | *Thanks to live tweeting from several Toronto reporters like Katie Simpson, who have enabled us to put together the latest need-to-know information about Darwin. |
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