Monkey discovered on London bus sparks renewed abandonment fears

A London bus driver found a marmoset abandoned in a laundry bag on a city bus last week. The animal was tucked inside a small bird cage, left near the end of a route in north-west London. The driver discovered the primate after helping a passenger move the bag, which had been blocking the aisle.

Staff at the bus depot nicknamed the monkey Oyster after the local transit card. A veterinarian checked the animal and confirmed she was dehydrated but otherwise healthy. She is currently recovering at a sanctuary that specializes in primate care and has already started socializing with another marmoset at the facility.

Animal welfare officers suspect this case is a direct result of new legislation in England that tightens regulations on keeping primates as pets. The rules now require owners to meet standards similar to those used in zoos, effectively ending the practice of keeping monkeys in private homes. Experts estimate that roughly 5,000 primates are kept as pets across the UK, and they fear this abandonment is the first of many as owners struggle to comply with the new licensing requirements.

The investigation into the incident continues. Officials are checking bus logs and security footage to identify the person who left the animal on board. The animal welfare agency urges owners who cannot meet the new legal standards to contact professional organizations for help rather than abandoning their animals in public spaces.