Miko’s mother, Lala, was not like the other mothers in the troop. Though she cared for her baby in her own way, she had grown up without proper guidance herself. Taken in as an orphan when she was very young, Lala lacked the natural skills and nurturing instincts most monkey mothers develop from watching and learning in a stable troop. Sadly, she often mimicked behavior she didn’t fully understand—sometimes being rough, sometimes ignoring her baby’s cries, and other times teaching him odd routines that only added confusion to his young mind.
At first, the caretakers thought Miko was simply shy. He clung to his mother constantly but didn’t engage in normal play. He rarely made eye contact with the other babies. He stopped responding to his name and refused to explore, even when other monkeys encouraged him. Over time, it became clear: this wasn’t simple shyness. Miko was emotionally shutting down.
He had begun to suffer from what caretakers recognized as infant monkey depression—a real and heartbreaking condition where the newborn becomes withdrawn, listless, and emotionally flat due to a lack of consistent affection, comfort, and healthy bonding.
The caregivers tried gently to help. They offered soft blankets, extra feeding sessions, and chances for Miko to interact with other nurturing females in the troop. But Miko always returned to Lala, not understanding that her mixed signals were the root of his confusion and sadness. His world revolved around her, even though her actions left him lost and emotionally exhausted.
One caregiver, Mei, took a special interest in Miko’s case. She began spending more time nearby, carefully interacting with both mother and child. Slowly, she introduced calming touch, gentle grooming, and consistent routines. She even brought in a gentle older monkey, Luna, who had raised two babies of her own, to model healthy mothering behavior near Lala.
It didn’t happen overnight. But after several weeks, Lala began to soften. She groomed Miko more regularly, responded to his cries, and showed less confusion. And Miko? For the first time in days, he reached out toward Mei, made soft vocal sounds, and even played briefly with a leaf.
It was a small step—but a powerful one.
Miko’s journey is far from over, but with gentle help and patience, he’s learning that love doesn’t have to be confusing—and that even the smallest hearts can heal.
