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And Finally
Bieber monkey still in limbo
By Andy Malt | Published on Thursday 25 April 2013
Did Justin Bieber never see those adverts? You know, the ones that said, “A monkey is for life, not just for your birthday”? Well, it was something like that. Clearly he didn’t, because if he had he wouldn’t have abandoned his pet monkey in Germany.
As previously reported, Bieber was given the monkey, named Mally, for his nineteenth birthday midway through his European tour in March. But when he tried to take Mally off his private jet and into Germany officials at Munich Airport said that the popstar didn’t have the correct paperwork and promptly confiscated the animal. He was then given four weeks to come back and collect it, though authorities noted at the time that neither the singer or his people had been in touch since the confiscation.
But now, as that four week deadline is reached, reps for Bieber have been in touch with the Munich animal sanctuary where Mally is being cared for. However, according to a spokesperson, that was just to say that no one was going to come and get the monkey, instead asking for them to locate a “safe and sheltered place, or a zoo” as a new home.
Poor monkey. Well, actually, I think Mally probably had a lucky escape – concerns already having been raised over the morality of an animal being plucked from its mother and natural habitat in order to become the plaything of a teen popstar.
It’s not over yet though. Apparently phoning up and saying you don’t want a monkey isn’t enough. Authorities have now given Bieber a new deadline of 17 May to notify them in writing that he doesn’t want his monkey back, and address the matter for the thousands of euros it’s costing to look after the animal while he makes his mind up.
Bonn Federal Office For Nature Conservation official Franz Böhmer said in a statement: “So far no papers for the monkey of Justin Bieber have been submitted. If he submits a written disclaimer, we can accommodate Mally in a welfare family group in a zoo”.
