If you have ever spent time watching wildlife documentaries or scrolling through nature videos online, you have likely come across a heartbreaking sight: a tiny baby monkey screaming and crying, while its mother seemingly ignores it or even pushes it away. To human eyes, this looks like harsh abandonment. We naturally want to swoop in and comfort the infant.
However, in the primate world, these tearful tantrums are a normal, healthy, and crucial part of growing up. Here is a look into why monkey moms let their babies cry and what is actually happening beneath the surface.