The Munich animal clinic where he’s being held indicates that Bieber’s management team in New York has contacted them, asking them to find a “safe and sheltered place, or a zoo” for the monkey.

“We have to discuss now the way forward with customs officials and other responsible departments,” a spokesperson for the clinic explained.

“So far, no papers for the monkey of Justin Bieber have been submitted,” said Franz Böhmer from the Bonn Federal Office for Nature Conservation. “If he submits a written disclaimer, we can accommodate Mally in a welfare family group in a zoo.”

Mally, who flew into Munich on Bieber’s private jet, was a 19th birthday present from music producer Jamal “Mally Mal” Rashid.

“Owning primates is probably a bad idea anyway,” wrote Jake Richardson on the Planetsave website.

“They are very social creatures and need to interact with each other for their well-being. Baby capuchins are often taken from their mothers and raised by humans. The disruption of their natural mother bond is stressful and can interfere with their ability to have awareness of their own identity,” he said.