A marmoset found abandoned in a cage on a London bus is now safe and settling into her new home at a Brentwood animal sanctuary.
The small primate, originally named Oyster but now called Nibbles, was discovered on July 17 on the 302 bus after a passenger asked the driver for help moving a large bag. The marmoset began screeching from inside the hidden cage, which was covered with a plastic laundry bag.
The driver took the animal to the bus depot, where RSPCA officers collected her. She has since been rehomed at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Essex, which cares for nearly 700 animals including five other marmosets.
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Lianne Angliss, general manager at Hopefield, said: "Nibbles is very timid and quite shy so we’re working on building up her confidence and teaching her to come to us for food so we can carry out regular checks on her and make sure she’s happy and healthy. It’s going to take time but we’re confident that, once she’s been introduced to her new friend, she’ll become more outgoing and his energy and cheekiness will rub off on her."
The sanctuary had been looking for a companion for Loki, a lone male marmoset, and plans to introduce Nibbles to him once she completes her quarantine period.
The RSPCA is still investigating the circumstances of her abandonment.
Clare Dew, London chief inspector for the charity, said: "We’re still keen to hear from anyone who was on the 302 bus on the morning of 17 July and who may have seen someone board with the laundry bag. Nibbles has completed a temporary hold with us at the RSPCA and has now been taken on by Hopefield where she’ll get the expert care she needs, as well as the vital socialisation with other marmosets.
"We’re so pleased she’d got such a happy ending after everything she’s been through, but we fear she won’t be the last to be abandoned, handed over or left behind following the introduction of tough new conditions around keeping primates as pets."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the RSPCA appeal line on 0300 123 8018, quoting reference 1857303.
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