Tiktok was found living in poor conditions in a property in Grays (credit: RSPCA)
The infant marmoset was discovered living in a bird cage, by a housing officer visiting the property in June, who then reported concerns to the RSPCA.
Tiktok, who had been taken away from his mother, is now living at Monkey World, in Dorset where he’s already been adopted by a pair of monkeys, called Clydie and Ronnie.
Monkey World staff report that in an emotional scene, the baby marmoset cried out to adult female, Clydie and jumped onto her back.
Clydie instantly adopted him as her own, carrying, grooming, and protecting little TikTok.
RSPCA Inspector, Jack Taylor said: “I was shocked by the conditions this poor boy was living in.
“Named TikTok, he was living a miserable life, left all alone in a parrot cage with none of his essential needs being met.
“Primates are intelligent, sentient and highly social animals with complex needs that simply cannot be met in a domestic environment.
“TikTok had no companionship, no space to carry out natural behaviour and no enrichment. He was never going to thrive in these shocking conditions.
“What’s even worse, he was just an infant – only a few months old. Little TikTok should still have been getting full time care and nursing from his mother, but instead, he had been prematurely taken away from his parents.
“He needed rescuing urgently and luckily, after obtaining an agreement for him to be signed over into our care, we were able to find him a forever home at Monkey World.
“Monkey World Director, Dr Alison Cronin, drove up the same day to bring the youngster back to the centre to meet his new family.
“We would like to thank this wonderful rescue centre for providing him with a safe and appropriate home for life where all his needs can be met.”
Tiktok is thriving in his new environment
The RSPCA believes the government’s proposed Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill doesn’t go far enough.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the charity said: “The RSPCA is delighted that the government is taking action on the trading and keeping of primates in England with the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, although the animal charity does not believe the proposed law goes far enough.
“The animal charity strongly urges the government to reconsider their proposals, as a ban on the keeping and trade of pet primates is the only answer.
“This could be phased in gradually, with very limited exceptions made, such as for those involved in the genuine rescue of primates.
“At the very least, the RSPCA believes continued breeding and selling of primates between private keepers should be prohibited to end the trade in monkeys like poor TikTok.”
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Tags: Grays, Thurrock, RSPCA
