Under the shade of a giant tree, Mama Suri sat cradling her newborn baby, Nilo. He was so small, his tiny fingers barely able to grip her fur. His soft cries filled the air, weak and fragile.
But Mama Suri’s heart broke as she looked at his tiny leg—it was swollen and bruised. He had been injured during birth when she had to escape from a predator.
Gently, she licked his leg, her warm tongue soothing the pain. Nilo whimpered, his little body shivering.
“Shh, my love,” Mama whispered, pulling him close to her chest. “Mama is here.”
For days, she didn’t leave his side. She carried him everywhere, searching for soft leaves to wrap his wound, carefully feeding him drops of milk, keeping him warm against her fur.
Other monkeys in the troop watched with worry.
“Will the baby survive?”
“He is so small and hurt…”
“Mama Suri is strong—she will not give up.”
And they were right.
Slowly, Nilo’s cries grew softer. His tiny hands clung to his mother’s fur with more strength. His swollen leg began to heal, little by little.
One morning, as the sun rose, Mama Suri felt something. A tiny movement.
She looked down—Nilo was stretching his tiny leg!
Her heart swelled with happiness. Tears filled her eyes as she kissed his little head. “You are so strong, my baby.”
Nilo let out a soft giggle and snuggled into her chest. He was safe, he was healing, and he knew—his mother’s love would always protect him.
