A bus driver had a shock when he discovered an extra passenger on the 302 bus in Kensal Rise shortly before 11.45am on Friday morning
A bus driver got the shock of his life on Friday when he went to help a woman with a pram and found someone had abandoned a monkey on his bus.
A mum boarding the 302 bus in London’s Kensal Rise was struggling to get her buggy down the walkway due to a laundry bag sticking out of the luggage bay shortly before 11.45am on Friday morning.
The driver went to help her and as he pushed the bag out of the way he heard a “chirping” noise coming from inside, the RSPCA reported.
The stunned driver, finding that the bag contained a little marmoset, promptly cancelled the service and returned to the bus depot in Willesden to take care of his surprise passenger.
He called the RSPCA who came and took the marmoset to be cared for in a more comfortable setting following its bus ride, MyLondon reports.
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.
“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. They’ve been incredibly helpful and are now assisting with our enquiries so we can trace the person responsible for dumping her.
“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.”
Wildlife campaigners believe the abandonment is in response to new legislation that means all primates kept in England must be licensed. The marmoset was seen by a specialist exotics vet for a check-up but, thankfully, was given a clean bill of health.
She has since been affectionately named ‘Oyster’, in honour of her discovery on a London bus, and is settling into a new home at a sanctuary with specialist facilities for primates. Soon she will be introduced to a new male companion who had been looking for a friend.
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 now investigating and would like to hear from 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.