A London bus driver discovered a caged monkey hidden inside a laundry bag on board last week.
The marmoset is believed to have been abandoned by its owner, and animal protection authorities are warning of further abandonment following recent changes to the UK’s primate captivity laws.
The driver of bus number 302, who has not been identified, spotted the frightened animal on Friday morning near the end of the route from Mill Hill Broadway to Kensal Rise in northwest London.
Britain’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said the mother tried to disembark the ship with her child in a stroller, but a large laundry bag blocked her path.
“When the driver came to her rescue and pushed the bag out of the way, the monkey inside started squealing and jumping up and down. When they looked inside the bag, they discovered a frightened marmoset,” Claire Dew, chief inspector for the charity London, which is currently investigating the incident, said in a press release sent to CNN.
The monkey, who has since been nicknamed Oyster after his London travel card, was taken back to a bus station near Willesden before staff contacted the RSPCA.
“The monkey (a female common marmoset) was in a small white metal birdcage, which was wrapped in a checkered plastic laundry bag with handles and was well hidden. She had been left with an apple and was understandably very stressed and dehydrated,” Dew said.
“Until Sal was discovered, no one noticed anything unusual on the bus, but we will be examining CCTV and scans of the interior and exterior of the bus to see if we can identify the person who left her there. This was clearly intentional.”
The oyster was examined by a professional veterinarian and deemed to be healthy, and has since been settled in a sanctuary with specialized primate facilities. “In a twist of fate, a conservancy partnered with us to find a suitable female marmoset to introduce to a single male in their care,” Dew said.
“She has settled in very well over the weekend and is eating well, so we hope she will meet her new friends soon. If she is not adopted, she will remain there with experienced keepers, a great enclosure and companions.”
Dew and her team believe Oyster’s waiver is likely “the first of many” following the law, which took effect in April. The new rules mean all primates in the UK must be licensed to ensure they are kept in conditions that meet “zoo-level standards”, effectively banning keeping them as pets, the government announced after the law was passed.
An estimated 5,000 primates are currently kept as pets in the UK, according to authorities. The RSPCA said there was little “uptake” of the new licenses, raising concerns that many owners would instead keep their animals in illegal conditions or abandon them.
Mr Dew said: “I would be surprised if this was the last primate we ever saw abandoned,” and urged owners who may be struggling to care for their animals to contact their veterinarian or a charity like the RSPCA.
RSPCA exotic animal expert Evie Button said primates are “highly intelligent and sociable wild animals” who require “a lot of space, mental stimulation and suitable company”.
“Ultimately, we believe that primates should not be kept as pets. We want to see a future where monkeys are no longer kept in homes, but are rescued in environments that truly meet their needs.”
