A London bus driver was forced to return to the depot after discovering a terrified monkey had been abandoned by its owner. The common marmoset was found on a 302 bus in Kensal Rise shortly before 11:45am on Friday, July 17.
Discovery on the bus
A mother reportedly boarded the bus with her buggy but could not access the walkway because a laundry bag was protruding from the luggage bay, according to the RSPCA. When the driver helped by pushing the bag out of the way, the monkey began chirping and jumping. Peering inside, the driver saw the monkey and decided to return to the depot in Willesden and call the RSPCA.
Claire Dew, RSPCA London chief inspector, said: “The monkey - a female common marmoset - was inside a small, white, metal bird cage which had been wrapped inside a plastic, chequered laundry bag, with handles, so was well concealed. She’d been left with some apple but was, understandably, very stressed and dehydrated.”
Investigation and new laws
Wildlife campaigners believe the abandonment is linked to new legislation requiring all primates kept in England to be licensed. The RSPCA is investigating, reviewing CCTV and bus logs to identify the person responsible. Dew added: “No one noticed anything unusual on the bus before the monkey was discovered but we’ll be looking at CCTV and the logs for scanning on and off the bus to see if we can locate the person who left her onboard.”
Thankfully, the marmoset was examined by a specialist exotics vet and given a clean bill of health. She has been named 'Oyster' in honor of her discovery on a London bus and is settling into a sanctuary with specialist primate facilities. Soon she will be introduced to a male companion who had been looking for a friend.
Happy ending for Oyster
Chief Inspector Dew added: “In a twist of fate, a sanctuary had been working with us to find a suitable female marmoset to introduce to a lone male they were caring for. We were hoping to transfer one from the north of England but, when that fell through just a few hours before Oyster was rescued, it looked like destiny that Oyster was supposed to go there.”
“She's settled in really well over the weekend, and is eating well, so hopefully she’ll be able to meet her new friend soon. If she isn’t claimed then she’ll remain there with experienced keepers, a wonderful enclosure and company.”
The RSPCA is appealing for any members of the public who may have seen someone board the bus with the laundry bag to contact the appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
