Nature

Monkey Mum Refuses To Let Go Of Dead Babys Body

This is the sad image of a macaque holding the limp body of her dead baby in a Singapore nature spot.

The images were taken by photographer Dennis Nathaniel Chan who runs eco-programmes and makes wildlife films to raise awareness of Singapore’s biodiversity.

Dennis told Newsflash that he spotted the sad scene while walking around Singapore’s MacRitchie Reservoir with a friend at around 11am on 12th June.

Macaque holding on to a dead baby macaque in MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore in June 2021. (Dennis Nathaniel Chan, The Untamed Paths/Newsflash)

The image shows the adult long-tailed macaque, also known as a crab-eating macaque, holding her lifeless infant in her arms.

Chan said he observed the macaque lifting up her baby and putting it back down again for about half an hour.

Long-tailed macaques are highly intelligent and have often been spotted carrying their dead young as if overcome with grief.

Dennis Nathaniel Chan told Newsflash: “A friend and I were filming some native wildlife (birds and colugos) at MacRitchie Reservoir and came across the unfortunate sight.

Macaque holding on to a dead baby macaque in MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore in June 2021. (Dennis Nathaniel Chan, The Untamed Paths/Newsflash)

“The female long-tailed macaque was still holding onto the lifeless body of the baby and I believe she thought the baby was still alive. She even made attempts to get rid of the flies that started swarming her poor infant.

“She was carrying the corpse and putting it down, this went on for a good 30 minutes or so until we left them.

“Long-tailed macaques in Singapore are highly intelligent and adaptable, but they are often seen as a nuisance and ‘raiders’. We should always remember that these animals are wild and we should take conscious steps to avoid human-conflict.”

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