A famous TikTok monkey is at the center of controversy after scientists in Florida claimed the primate was stolen from a colony – and not rescued from a lab as its owner claims.
The account, called Thabo and Ray, features 31-year-old influencer Kim Raymond Feaste and his monkey, Thabo, on daily adventures in the car, in stores and outdoors. The duo has amassed over 3.4 million followers and 133.1 million likes on the platform.
@thaboandray♬ walking in a dream from the empire of the sun – sofi
Feaste claims he rescued Thabo after the monkey's mother was killed in a Las Vegas lab. But Florida Atlantic University assistant professor Dr. Deborah “Missy” Williams told a local newspaper Sun Sentinel that she doesn't think so — and now she's taking it up with animal rights organizations in the state.
Williams claims Feaste got the monkey from a colony in Dania Beach, Florida, which is near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The colony has about 40 monkeys, although they are not tracked. Babies are believed to have a 50% mortality rate. Monkeys have roamed the area since the 1940s after being brought to country from West Africa.
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“I'm concerned about the monkey's welfare because I know he's not being cared for properly,” Williams told him. Sun Sentinel. “(Monkeys) need a lot of mental enrichment, healthy appetites, things like that. And I'm concerned that if he's developed this biting pattern, he's going to be considered a public danger, which could result in animal being euthanized.”
Williams says a lab wouldn't willingly hand a monkey over to a good Samaritan and euthanize it.
Williams is convinced the monkey was taken by the Dania Beach trooper and noted primatologist Bob Ingersoll agrees, according to the output. Other experts are divided.
Michelle Sinnott, PETA's director of captive animal law enforcement, does not believe Thabo was bred from a lab or taken from the wild. She thinks he was bought from a breeder, instead.
Meanwhile, Feaste vehemently denies the allegations and has responded in several TikTok videos calling Williams a “stalker” and accusing him of trying to put “his and Thabo's safety” at risk.
“My monkey is well taken care of,” Feaste told him Sentinel. “We live in mansions and have a lot of money and live a good life.”
Debroah Missy Williams (aka Dr. Missy Williams) stalks me, threatens my life, has stalked me, paid people to stalk me, defamed me, defamed my name, and much more. PLEASE SEND THIS TO THE FBI
Williams has primarily filed complaints with state police and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“Williams advised that there are videos on the social media page (TikTok) of Kim Raymond Feaste having a green Vervet monkey,” a October 2023 report filed in Pulaski County, the Arkansas police department says, after Williams claimed Feaste and Thabo would drive through the area. “Williams stated that he believes the primate was stolen from a sanctuary in Ft Lauderdale Florida about 4 years ago.”
In March, Williams emailed clips of Thabo to the Florida Wildlife Conservancy that she claimed came from a private investigator she hired to find Feaste and Thabo.
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The only way to find out Thabo's true parentage is to test his DNA, but it looks like Feaste and Williams won't be able to do that anytime soon.