In the quiet corner of the enclosure, a tiny newborn monkey lay curled up, still pink and trembling from birth. His mother—Old Mama, as the staff lovingly called her—stood nearby, but something wasn’t right.
Normally, mothers instinctively clean and hold their babies close. But Old Mama kept her distance. Her eyes were cold, her body language stiff. The baby squeaked softly, wriggling toward her with desperate little cries. But instead of welcoming him, she pushed him away.
The caretakers watched in shock and sorrow. This was her baby, yet she seemed to want nothing to do with him.
It wasn’t just rejection—it was discomfort, confusion… even hostility.
The newborn was a hybrid, born from two different monkey species under unusual circumstances. His fur was lighter, his features slightly different. Perhaps Mama didn’t recognize him as her own. Perhaps she was scared. But no matter the reason, the result was heartbreaking.
She slapped the ground near him, shoved him with her foot, and turned her back when he tried to nuzzle close. Each time he reached for her, hoping for warmth, she pulled away or pushed harder.
The caretakers quickly intervened. They gently lifted the newborn, wrapped him in a warm cloth, and began bottle-feeding him. His cries faded, and slowly, his tiny body relaxed.
The full clip recorded the painful truth: not all beginnings are gentle. But while his mother turned away, humans stepped in to protect, feed, and love him.
He may have been born unwanted by the one who should’ve cared the most—but he wouldn’t be raised unloved.
