Credits: Social Media
Wild monkey recognizes man who helped free her years later in cute video
A wildlife photographers wholesome reunion with a wild monkey, years after his last visit has melted hearts online.
The emotional scene captured the moment photographer Casey Cooper finally saw the now-wild spider monkey, four years after she was rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
It was like he never left, as the pregnant monkey named Mikah, instantly recognized her old friend and went in for a warm hug. The moment has since gone viral online, gaining over 4 M views after being posted just two days ago on January 10th.
The wild spider monkey was rescued from a cage
Cooper shared in his video that it was his first time seeing this now wild spider monkey in over two years. The photographer said he had no idea if she would recognize him, but she did.
According to Cooper, Mikah the monkey used to live in a tiny cage inside a tiny apartment by herself with no other monkeys to interact with. Four years ago, she was rescued by a wildlife sanctuary in Bolivia.
She spent two years there learning how to socialize with other animals and fend for herself in the wild. Fast forwards to today, shes wild, free, and pregnant and gets to be a mother soon, wrote Cooper.
Mikah embraced Cooper in the clip
Despite not seeing Cooper for over two years, Mikah the monkey seemed to immediately recognize the wildlife photographer from her past.
In the viral video, the spider monkey approached the wildlife photographer and seemed to dart over to him. The pair appeared to be in the wild together, with Mikah safe in her own habitat.
Mikah ran in for a hug, putting her arms tightly around Coopers neck and embracing him. She could even be seen tucking her head into his chest, like a human baby.
Not all sanctuary stories are successful but when they are, we remember why we do the things we do for each creature that gets a second chance at wildlife, Cooper captioned the post.
TikTok users have been left emotional
After going viral, the video has touched the hearts of many online, with users voicing their own desire to be hugged by Mikah.
Oh to be gently hugged by a spider monkey, wrote one user.
That hug would heal my soul, added another.
Here I am, crying because I have never been hugged by a spider monkey at 7:48 am. Bless her and her baby, reads a comment on the video.
