Hey..! What Are You Doing? Are You Hungry for Milk? | Real Angkor Monkey
In the sacred shadows of the ancient Angkor temples, where the stone walls whisper tales of kings and spirits, a very different kind of drama was playing out — one not written in carvings, but in the everyday life of the Real Angkor monkeys. Beneath the towering trees, amidst the quiet ruin paths, a small group of macaques bustled around their morning rituals. But today, one little monkey caught everyone’s attention with a scene both funny and touching.
A mischievous young monkey named Timo had been bouncing from tree to tree all morning. He was full of energy, full of questions, and — most of all — full of mischief. But something was bothering him. His tummy rumbled, his steps were slower, and he kept glancing at the mothers in the troop who were cuddling and nursing their babies.
Timo didn’t have a mother anymore. She had vanished weeks ago, and while the troop had allowed him to stay, no one had truly taken him in. He was growing, but still very young — not yet ready to fully care for himself. That morning, as the sun warmed the moss-covered stones, Timo did something bold.
He crept up to a mother named Sina, who was cradling her newborn tightly. Her baby was nursing peacefully, little feet tucked close to her chest. Timo approached slowly, head lowered in submission, making soft chirping sounds. Then, without warning, he poked his head toward her chest, as if to say, “Hey..! What are you doing? Are you hungry for milk? Because… I am!”
Sina looked down, startled, and let out a loud grunt: “Hey..! What are YOU doing?” She quickly pulled her baby closer and pushed Timo back with one hand. Timo backed off but didn’t run. He simply sat there with big, sad eyes, rubbing his empty belly. He looked around at the other nursing mothers with silent hope.
Another mother, Dara, had also seen the encounter. She was nursing her own baby, and at first, she was wary of Timo too. But when he sat near her, quietly grooming the grass and not trying anything, she didn’t push him away.
Timo leaned toward her, slowly, respectfully. Dara gave him a cautious glance but allowed him to sit closer. He looked at her, then at her baby, then at her chest again. He didn’t try to steal milk this time. He just watched. It was almost as if he was trying to remember what that comfort felt like — the safety, the warmth.
After a few minutes, Dara let her baby rest and moved a little, not offering milk, but letting Timo curl up next to her. She groomed him gently, pulling small twigs and bugs from his fur. It wasn’t the nourishment he was craving, but it was affection — and Timo took it.
The other monkeys watched the scene unfold with interest. Some chuckled, some ignored it, but a few younger females were touched. One even came closer and offered Timo a fruit she had picked earlier. He accepted it eagerly and gave a grateful squeak before biting into it.
The Real Angkor monkeys have lived alongside humans and ruins for generations, and their lives are filled with the same emotions we know — love, jealousy, hunger, and longing. Timo’s little moment, though small, spoke volumes. He wasn’t just hungry for milk. He was hungry for connection, for comfort, for the motherly bond he had lost.
And in that temple clearing, amidst thousand-year-old stones and warm jungle light, he found a little piece of what he was looking for — not in milk, but in kindness.
Because sometimes, a full belly isn’t the only thing a baby needs. Sometimes, all it takes is someone to sit beside you and say, “Hey… you’re not alone.”
