It was a quiet moment in the troop when something unexpected happened. Little Jilla, soft and sweet, approached Skippy—perhaps just hoping for comfort, a little playtime, or even a moment of affection.
But instead of welcoming her, Skippy reacted with sudden roughness. He squeezed and pushed Jilla aside, leaving her startled and confused. Her tiny body froze. Her eyes widened. She wasn’t hurt, but her feelings clearly were.
Why did Skippy do this?
Sometimes in monkey groups, stronger or older members feel overwhelmed, territorial, or stressed. In those moments, they might take out their feelings in ways that seem unkind—especially toward smaller, more vulnerable babies like Jilla. It’s not always about anger or dislike; often, it’s about emotions they don’t know how to express.
Jilla backed away slowly, her little hands trembling slightly. She didn’t cry, but her face showed it all: sadness, confusion, and that deep, quiet question all little ones feel in moments like this—“What did I do wrong?”
But Jilla did nothing wrong.
A caregiver or older monkey nearby noticed and gently came to comfort her. They stroked her back, offering soft reassurance. Jilla soon relaxed, though the moment still lingered in her heart.
