A frightening moment unfolded today between mother monkey Libby and her infant, Rainbow, leaving caregivers shocked and deeply concerned. What appeared to start as a routine grooming interaction quickly turned into a dangerous and nearly tragic incident.
Libby, known for her unpredictable behavior, had baby Rainbow close by her side. He was curled up, relaxed, and softly clinging to her fur. But suddenly, Libby placed her hand firmly on Rainbow’s neck, pressing with increasing force. At first, it looked like rough handling—but within seconds, Rainbow began to panic, writhing and gasping.
Caregivers rushed to intervene as Rainbow’s movements slowed, his body going limp. It was a chilling moment—he was nearly unconscious, his breathing faint and irregular. Libby showed no sign of releasing him until staff carefully separated them using calm but firm distraction techniques.
Rainbow was quickly taken to the emergency care area. His condition was serious—weak pulse, shallow breathing, and signs of trauma around his neck. Fortunately, after several minutes of oxygen, fluid support, and gentle handling, he began to stabilize.
This wasn’t simply rough parenting. It was an act of severe aggression or stress, possibly brought on by Libby’s own mental strain, past trauma, or territorial anxiety. While some primates may unintentionally hurt their babies due to inexperience, the intensity of Libby’s action has raised red flags.
