She was born under a rainbow — quite literally. The morning light hit the wet leaves just right, creating a soft arc of colors over the treetops as a tiny, helpless baby monkey took her first breath.
That’s why the rescuers named her Rainbow.
Her arrival was supposed to be a blessing, a symbol of hope for the troop. But Rainbow’s life didn’t begin with the love and warmth every baby deserves.
Instead… it started with fear.
From the beginning, her mother — an older, high-ranking female named Lira — showed little interest in her. Rainbow would reach out, tiny hands grasping for her mother’s chest. Sometimes she’d latch on, but other times, she’d be pushed away harshly, with a slap or a cold stare.
The troop noticed. So did the humans observing nearby.
But things got worse as the days passed.
💢 The First Attack
One morning, while the troop was gathered near a water source, Rainbow toddled too close to her mother’s meal. Just a single step. Just curiosity.
And then — without warning — her mother struck her across the face.
The force was small by adult standards, but Rainbow’s little body tumbled backward. She didn’t cry out — not yet. She just sat in shock, holding her face and blinking in confusion.
A few minutes later, she approached again. Carefully. Quietly. Hoping for a sign of acceptance.
What she got… was another hit.
This time, Rainbow yelped. The sound was sharp. High-pitched. Desperate.
And in that moment, everyone watching knew: this baby wasn’t just being scolded. She was being abused.
🐒 Crawling Away in Pain
Over the next week, the violence continued. Whenever Rainbow tried to climb onto her mother’s back, she was shaken off. If she cried, she was smacked. If she followed her mother into the shade, she was chased away.
The most heartbreaking moment came one afternoon when Rainbow tried to seek comfort — she wrapped her tiny arms around her mother’s leg and softly nuzzled against her.
And her mother kicked her away.
Rainbow cried.
But even as she crawled away, holding her bruised shoulder and trembling… she turned around. She still looked back. Still hoping for love.
That’s what broke the hearts of the rescuers and watchers alike.
💔 Why Do Monkey Mothers Reject Their Babies?
Sadly, in the wild, not all mothers are nurturing. Sometimes, due to stress, illness, low resources, or past trauma, a monkey mother may reject or even become aggressive toward her own baby. It’s rare — but it happens.
And for babies like Rainbow, it’s devastating.
Young monkeys rely on their mothers for food, warmth, safety, and social learning. When that bond is broken — or becomes violent — the baby not only suffers physically, but emotionally too.
Rainbow stopped playing. She flinched at every movement. Even when other troop members came close, she curled into herself — not trusting anyone.
🙏 A Glimmer of Hope
Thankfully, one gentle female in the troop — a low-ranking but nurturing monkey named Sia — began watching Rainbow from a distance. Slowly, over several days, she approached. She sat near her. She offered her pieces of fruit. And eventually… Rainbow crawled onto her lap.
It was the first time she felt warmth again.
Rescuers hoped Sia would adopt Rainbow — and over time, she did. While not a replacement for a mother’s original bond, Sia became her protector, her comfort, and her teacher.
Rainbow’s bruises began to heal. Her cries turned to chirps. She learned to play again.
💖 A Baby’s Resilience
Today, Rainbow is still small, still fragile, but filled with new life.
She’s learning how to groom, how to jump between branches, and most importantly — how to trust again.
Her story reminds us of something incredibly powerful: even the smallest, most broken-hearted creature can recover… if given love.