Monkey abandoned on London bus rescued by RSPCA, Marmoset found inside cage disguised by large laundry bag. A terrified monkey left inside a cage and covered with a laundry bag has been abandoned on a London bus. The RSPCA was called to rescue the common marmoset after the driver found her on the route 302 bus - travelling between Mill Hill Broadway Station and Kensal Rise - when the bus arrived at Kensal Rise at 11.43am on Friday morning (17 July). She has since been affectionately nicknamed Oyster - after the London travel card. RSPCA London Chief Inspector Clare Dew - who is now investigating - said: ?A mum got on the bus with her buggy but couldn?t get down the walkway because the laundry bag was sticking out of the luggage bay and blocking the way.
The common marsomet was dumped with just an apple for food (Picture: RSPCA)

A terrified monkey has been found hidden in a laundry bag on a London bus.

The common marmoset had been abandoned on the 302 bus from Mill Hill Broadway to Kensal Rise with only an apple left beside her.

The discovery was made by a mum struggling to get her pram past the bag in the aisle.

She heard a distressed chirping coming from inside and alerted the driver who found the monkey locked in a cage.

The driver took the female primate – nicknamed Oyster after the London travel card – to the Metroline depot at Willesden where she was cared for in a dark cool room while the RSPCA was called.

She was checked over and given a clean bill of health, but was not microchipped.

By a stroke of luck, the RSPCA was working with a specialist primate sanctuary that was looking for a female marmoset to introduce to a lone male.

Monkey abandoned on London bus rescued by RSPCA, Marmoset found inside cage disguised by large laundry bag. A terrified monkey left inside a cage and covered with a laundry bag has been abandoned on a London bus. The RSPCA was called to rescue the common marmoset after the driver found her on the route 302 bus - travelling between Mill Hill Broadway Station and Kensal Rise - when the bus arrived at Kensal Rise at 11.43am on Friday morning (17 July). She has since been affectionately nicknamed Oyster - after the London travel card. RSPCA London Chief Inspector Clare Dew - who is now investigating - said: ?A mum got on the bus with her buggy but couldn?t get down the walkway because the laundry bag was sticking out of the luggage bay and blocking the way.
She has since been affectionately nicknamed Oyster – after the London travel card
(Picture: RSPCA)

London chief inspector Clare Dew said: ‘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 added: ‘She’d been left with some apple but was, understandably, very stressed and dehydrated.’

‘We’d like to say a big thank you to the bus driver and the team at Metroline who stayed calm, took the monkey back to their station, put her somewhere dark and cool, to keep her calm, and contacted us for help.’

The RSPCA is now working with the bus company trawling through CCTV and tap-in machines to try and track down the person who dumped Oyster.

Monkey abandoned on London bus rescued by RSPCA, Marmoset found inside cage disguised by large laundry bag. A terrified monkey left inside a cage and covered with a laundry bag has been abandoned on a London bus. The RSPCA was called to rescue the common marmoset after the driver found her on the route 302 bus - travelling between Mill Hill Broadway Station and Kensal Rise - when the bus arrived at Kensal Rise at 11.43am on Friday morning (17 July). She has since been affectionately nicknamed Oyster - after the London travel card. RSPCA London Chief Inspector Clare Dew - who is now investigating - said: ?A mum got on the bus with her buggy but couldn?t get down the walkway because the laundry bag was sticking out of the luggage bay and blocking the way.
Oyster was found inside cage disguised by large laundry bag (Picture: RSPCA)

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Exotic animals expert Evie Button said new rules surrounding marmosets may have contributed to Oyster’s abandonment.

She said: ‘Primates are highly intelligent and social wild animals who need a lot of space, mental stimulation and appropriate companions – needs that can’t be met by human company alone.

‘The introduction of primate licences in England is an important step forward for animal welfare, helping to ensure these animals are kept in more appropriate conditions, but there is a real concern that keepers who cannot or do not want to license their pet may now instead abandon them.’

There are believed to be around 5,000 primates being kept as pets in England but uptake of licences has been slow.

Chief Inspector Dew added: ‘I’d be surprised if it’s the last primate we see being dumped.

‘But what we would say to anyone who is struggling to care for a pet or who cannot get a licence for any primate they have, please speak to specialists, vets or charities, don’t abandon them as it can have tragic consequences.’

As for Oyster, Ms Dew said she had settled in well and, as long as she isn’t claimed, they hope to introduce her to her new friend very soon.

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