Shelter worker: 'Justin Bieber is abandoning pet monkey'

Justin Bieber is reportedly keen to hand over ownership of his pet monkey to German authorities after it was seized by customs officials in March (13).

The Baby superstar's capuchin monkey, named Mally, was taken away by border officials when the teenager failed to produce the required papers after landing in Munich while on tour.

He has been given until Friday (17May13) to reclaim his furry friend from the Munich Animal Protection League center, where the animal is being housed, but, according to shelter spokeswoman Judith Brettmeister, Bieber's aides have already decided to abandon the pet, reports Reuters.

She says, "Bieber's lawyers have indicated they would like to leave the monkey."

Brettmeister reveals the capuchin, which was around 14 weeks old when it was seized, was in need of veterinary care as it had been taken from its mother before it was ready, but the animal is slowly adjusting to its new life.

She adds, "From an animal rights perspective, it would have been better to do that before, as he is being kept well here but not with other members of his own species. But it is now jumping around, learning slowly to climb and to use its tail."