A London bus driver discovered a caged common marmoset hidden inside a chequered laundry bag on a 302 route between Mill Hill Broadway and Kensal Rise, the RSPCA said. The animal was spotted when a passenger with a stroller could not pass because the bag was blocking the gangway. The driver removed the bag and heard the marmoset chirping and jumping inside.
The RSPCA identified the female marmoset, nicknamed Oyster after the London travel card, as stressed and dehydrated. She had been placed inside a small white metal bird cage and left with some apple, the charity said. Oyster was taken to the bus depot in Willesden and then seen by a specialist vet who deemed her healthy. She is now settling into a primate sanctuary and may meet a lone male already there.
RSPCA London chief inspector Clare Dew said the abandonment "was clearly intentional" and that investigators will review CCTV and passenger scanning logs to try to trace who left the animal. Metroline staff and the bus driver are assisting the inquiry. The charity also reported the marmoset had not been microchipped.
Primate Licences And Reactions
The discovery has renewed fears that recent regulations will drive owners to abandon primates, the RSPCA warned. New rules require primates kept in England to be licensed and microchipped under the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations, a change said by government to raise care to zoo level and effectively reduce private keeping. The RSPCA and animal groups say uptake of licences appears limited, raising concerns owners may not comply.
The RSPCA handled 238 reports of primate neglect and cruelty between 2021 and 2025, the charity reported. Clare Dew said she would be "surprised if it's the last primate we see being dumped" and urged owners who struggle to care for animals to contact vets or charities. Evie Button, the RSPCA's exotic animals expert, said primates are "highly intelligent and social wild animals" that need space, mental stimulation and appropriate companions.
Alison Cronin of Monkey World warned that social media has helped promote primates as suitable pets, with UK breeders profiting from the misconception. She said many owners have since obtained licences, while a Born Free survey suggested limited licence uptake. Chris Lewis of Born Free called for greater awareness and said the regulations' success depends on effective implementation and strict enforcement.
