A London bus driver recently came across a caged monkey concealed within a laundry bag on his bus last week.
It is believed that the marmoset was abandoned by its owner, leading animal welfare officials to caution about potential increases in such cases due to a recent legislative change regarding the ownership of primates in England.
The unidentified driver of the number 302 bus discovered the frightened creature toward the end of the route from Mill Hill Broadway to Kensal Rise in northwest London on Friday morning.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), a mother attempting to exit the bus with her child in a stroller found her path blocked by a sizable laundry bag.
Clare Dew, the chief inspector for London at the charity, who is investigating the incident, stated in a press release to USdaily: “The driver assisted her, and as he moved the bag aside, the monkey inside began chirping and making movements. Upon looking into the bag, he found the scared marmoset.”
The monkey, which has been affectionately named Oyster after the London travel card, was taken back to the bus depot in the nearby area of Willesden, where staff later reached out to the RSPCA.
“The monkey – a female common marmoset – was found in a small, white metal bird cage wrapped in a plastic checkered laundry bag, which made her hard to see. She had some apple with her but was understandably very stressed and dehydrated,” Dew reported.
“Prior to discovering the monkey, no one on the bus noticed anything out of the ordinary, but we’ll review CCTV footage and passenger logs to identify the individual who left her behind. This was clearly a deliberate act.”
Oyster was examined by a veterinary specialist who confirmed her health status, and she has since started adapting to a sanctuary designed for primates. “In an interesting turn of events, a sanctuary was already collaborating with us to find a suitable female marmoset to pair with a male they were caring for,” Dew mentioned.
“She adapted quite well over the weekend, is eating properly, and hopefully will soon be introduced to her new companion. If no one comes forward to claim her, she will remain there under the care of experienced staff in a lovely enclosure with company.”
Dew and her colleagues suspect that Oyster’s abandonment may be just the “first of many” incidents following the legislation that took effect in April. The new regulations stipulate that all primates in England must be licensed to ensure they are kept under conditions that meet “zoo-level standards,” effectively prohibiting the keeping of primates as pets, as stated by the government after the law’s enactment.
Authorities estimate that approximately 5,000 primates are maintained as pets in the UK. The RSPCA has noted a lack of interest in acquiring the new licenses, raising concerns that many owners may either keep their pets in illegal conditions or abandon them instead.
“I would be surprised if this is the last case of a primate being abandoned,” Dew remarked, encouraging owners facing difficulties in caring for their animals to contact veterinarians or organizations like the RSPCA.
As per Evie Button, the RSPCA’s expert on exotic animals, primates are “highly intelligent and social wild animals” that require “ample space, mental stimulation, and suitable companions.”
She further stated: “Ultimately, we believe that primates should not be kept as pets. Our goal is to achieve a future where monkeys are no longer housed in private homes but are protected in environments that genuinely fulfill their needs.”
