Need Rescue Urgent: Libby Hitting Baby Rainbow, Dropped Down on the Gate
It was a day that started like any other in the monkey sanctuary—a mix of morning grooming, playful chasing, and gentle bonding between mothers and their babies. But everything turned tense and tragic in just a few moments when an unexpected act of aggression turned into a dangerous accident. Baby Rainbow, one of the youngest and most fragile infants in the troop, fell victim to a sudden outburst from Libby, a stressed and unstable female, causing the baby to drop down painfully on the hard gate floor below.
Libby, though once a nurturing mother herself, had recently been struggling emotionally. Ever since losing her own baby weeks earlier, she had shown signs of confusion, distress, and unpredictable behavior. Caregivers and fellow monkeys alike had tried to comfort her, but the wounds from her loss remained unhealed. For reasons not fully understood, she had developed a fixation on Baby Rainbow—perhaps seeing her as a replacement, or perhaps triggered by painful memories.
That morning, Libby approached Rainbow while the baby clung to her real mother, calmly nursing under the sun. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Libby sat nearby, watching. But soon, she began inching closer, her body language growing tense. In a swift and unexpected moment, she lunged forward and snatched Rainbow from her mother’s arms. The troop screamed in alarm. Rainbow’s mother tried to follow, but Libby had already climbed onto the metal gate that separates part of the enclosure from the outer area.
Libby held Rainbow tightly—too tightly. The baby whimpered in confusion and fear, her tiny hands reaching out for help. What happened next stunned everyone watching. Libby suddenly hit Rainbow, not just once, but with a force that was clearly out of control. The baby shrieked in pain and panic, and then, in one heart-stopping moment, her grip loosened—and she fell.
Rainbow’s body hit the gate below with a sickening thud. She landed awkwardly, her small form twisting as she rolled slightly before coming to a still stop. The sanctuary fell into stunned silence for a second. Then the cries began—sharp, frightened, and heartbreaking. Rainbow’s mother rushed forward, climbing down the gate with desperate speed, followed by a couple of the elder females who recognized the urgency of the moment.
Staff members on duty immediately activated the emergency protocol. The words rang through the sanctuary radios: “Need rescue urgent! Baby Rainbow down. Libby attack confirmed!” Within seconds, caregivers raced to the scene with blankets, medical kits, and gentle hands ready to help.
When they reached Rainbow, she was conscious but visibly in pain. Her body trembled as her mother clutched her tightly, grooming her and trying to keep her warm. There was a visible scrape on Rainbow’s back and swelling beginning on her arm—likely from the hard impact. Carefully, one of the staff members lifted Rainbow while her mother followed close behind, not willing to let her baby out of sight.
Rainbow was taken to the medical area for examination. The team treated her injuries—thankfully, no broken bones, but definite bruising and shock. She was placed under observation with her mother beside her, cuddling her the entire time. Over the following hours, Rainbow’s condition stabilized, though she remained weak and shaken.
Libby, meanwhile, was gently removed from the group and placed into a separate area to calm down and be monitored. It was clear she needed help—emotional and behavioral support that only time and gentle care could provide. The troop remained unsettled, aware that something painful and serious had occurred.
This tragic incident is a harsh reminder of how delicate monkey society can be, especially when emotional trauma goes unnoticed. Baby Rainbow’s survival was a miracle of quick action and motherly love. But the need for rescue was real, and urgent. And thanks to the fast response, one tiny life was saved from what could have been a heartbreaking end.
