A common marmoset was discovered abandoned in a cage, concealed within a laundry bag, on a London bus last Friday. The driver found the primate when a laundry bag he moved began to chirp and jump.
The incident occurred on the 302 bus route between Mill Hill Broadway Station and Kensal Rise. The driver, assisting a mother with a pram, moved the laundry bag from the luggage bay and heard noises from within. Upon inspection, he found a distressed common marmoset inside a small, white metal bird cage wrapped in a plastic laundry bag.
The monkey, which had been left with some apple, was reportedly stressed and dehydrated. The driver took the animal back to the Metroline Bus Depot at Willesden Bus Station and contacted the RSPCA. Chief Inspector Clare Dew is investigating the abandonment.
The rescued primate has been named Oyster, after the London travel card. The common marmoset, native to northeastern Brazil, typically weighs between 250 and 400 grams and is recognizable by white ear tufts and a white blaze on its forehead.
Officials fear Oyster's abandonment may be part of a growing trend following new legislation introduced in April that requires all primates kept in England to be licensed. Charities such as the RSPCA are concerned that owners unable to meet the licensing requirements may illegally dump their pets.
RSPCA Exotic Animals Expert Evie Button stated that primates are intelligent, social wild animals with complex needs that cannot be fully met by human companionship. While the licensing is seen as a positive step for animal welfare, there is a concern that some keepers may abandon their pets instead of complying with the law.
The UK government estimates that around 5,000 primates are kept as pets in England, and early reports suggest low uptake of the new licensing system. The RSPCA has appealed to the public for information, asking anyone who may have seen someone board the bus with the laundry bag to contact them at 0300 123 8018.
Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage and bus logs to identify the person responsible. Chief Inspector Dew noted that such abandonments were a feared consequence of the new legislation and suggested that Oyster might not be the last primate to be dumped.
Oyster has been placed in a sanctuary with specialist primate facilities. In a fortunate turn of events, she is expected to be introduced to a male marmoset that the sanctuary was seeking to pair with a companion. If unclaimed, Oyster will remain at the sanctuary under the care of experienced keepers.