In the quiet corner of the troop’s shaded home, tension suddenly sparked between two mother monkeys—Jade and Julina. Normally calm and collected, Jade shocked everyone when she harshly warned Julina, her close companion. The reason? Julina had placed her fragile, one-day-old newborn on Jade’s back without asking or even checking if Jade was ready.
For monkeys, trust and boundaries are everything—especially when it comes to newborn babies. Jade, already exhausted and protective of her own space, felt overwhelmed. The baby was tiny, barely able to hold on, and still needed warmth from its real mother. Julina, possibly thinking Jade would help or share the burden for just a few minutes, made a risky decision without understanding how much stress Jade was under.
Jade didn’t hate Julina—but her sudden outburst looked fierce. Her body tensed, her eyes locked onto Julina with disbelief and frustration, and she even gave a warning call. Other members of the group stopped and watched the intense moment. Julina backed away, confused and a little hurt. But deep down, Jade’s reaction came from fear—not hate.
She was scared for the baby. Scared that one wrong step could hurt the newborn. Carrying another’s baby without permission broke troop etiquette and could even lead to rejection by others if the baby got injured. Jade’s loud warning was a desperate way of saying: “This is not okay!”
Later, Julina seemed to understand. She gently took her baby back, holding it close, and kept her distance for a while. The troop slowly returned to normal, but that moment served as a sharp reminder: even among caring mothers, respect and timing matter greatly—especially when tiny lives are involved.
