A reward of 3,000 pounds is being offered for information after a monkey was found abandoned on a bus in London. The animal, a female common marmoset that has since been named Oyster, was left on board a public bus and later taken into care. The case has prompted an appeal for anyone who knows how the animal ended up there to come forward.
According to those who described the discovery, the marmoset was found inside a cage that had a laundry bag placed on top of it. The unusual way in which the animal had been left added to the concern of those who came across her, with the scene described as shocking. Marmosets are small primates, and finding one abandoned in such circumstances was far from an everyday occurrence.
The monkey was found on the route 302 bus in London. She was discovered largely by chance while the bus was in service, and the situation was quickly flagged to those who could help. Credit for spotting and reporting the animal was given to the bus driver and the team at Metroline, the operator, who alerted the relevant authorities so that she could be looked after.
The RSPCA was called to help and took the case forward. The animal welfare charity said it presumed the marmoset had been abandoned, and it is now appealing for information. As part of that appeal, a reward of 3,000 pounds has been put up for anyone who can provide details about how the animal came to be left on the bus and who may have been responsible.
Those involved in the rescue underlined how distressing the situation would have been for the animal. The marmoset was described as having likely been absolutely terrified by being left alone in a cage on a moving bus. The reaction reflected the wider concern about the welfare of an exotic animal being abandoned in a public setting rather than being properly cared for.
The marmoset, given the name Oyster in a nod to the Oyster card used on London transport, is now said to be at a sanctuary. According to the account, a place had become available by chance after a separate transfer fell through, which allowed her to be taken in. The RSPCA is continuing to seek information as it looks to establish exactly how she was abandoned.