Bieber's Monkey Officially Becomes German Property

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Justin Bieber's pet monkey seized by German authorities in March officially became the property of that country on Tuesday after the pop star failed to meet a deadline to provide required vaccination documents and import papers.

The capuchin monkey, named Mally, had been in the care of German customs officials at a shelter since the 19-year-old Bieber landed in Munich on March 28 during his European concert tour.

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Authorities issued an order Tuesday transferring ownership of the monkey to Germany and the animal is going to be sent to an unspecified zoo in the country. "Monkeys are very sociable animals," Environment Minister Peter Altmaier told the Associated Press. "That's why we're going to take Mally to a place where he can live safely and in the company of others."

The shelter where the monkey has been kept criticized Bieber for keeping Mally -- who is now 20 weeks old -- as a pet, saying he shouldn't have been taken away from the mother until he was at least one year old. Officials said Bieber will be sent a bill for Mally's care in Germany, estimated to be several thousand dollars.

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