Weaning Time: A Macaque Mother Pushes Her Baby to Grow Up

A macaque mother named Elsa is filmed weaning her baby, Elino, in footage that moves from gentle tree-top holding to a rougher, noisier struggle on open ground. Weaning is the point where a mother macaque starts refusing to nurse as often, pushing her infant to feed and cling less, and it can look distressing to watch even though it is a normal stage of growing up for young primates.

The footage was shot by the filmmaker in Cambodia, where he follows a troop known as the Amari group. Elsa and Elino are part of that troop, and the video description names dozens of its other members, a reminder that this is one small moment inside a much larger, ongoing community the filmmaker has been tracking.

What does the footage show?

Early on, Elsa is seen high in a tree, wedged into a fork of branches, with Elino held close against her chest. The setting is calm, green leaves all around, and the two look settled, much like a house cat curled up with a kitten in a sheltered spot.

Later, the pair are on the ground, in a dry, open area with bare earth and scattered rock. Elsa holds Elino firmly, her mouth open, in what reads as a moment of correction rather than comfort. Elino’s face shows visible marks near his mouth, described by the filmmaker as red liquid, consistent with the friction of an infant being physically discouraged from nursing or clinging.

Why do mother monkeys wean their babies this way?

Among macaques, mothers commonly become firmer as an infant ages, blocking access to the nipple, pushing the baby off her back, or giving a sharp nip or grip to discourage continued nursing. It can look harsh from the outside, but it is a documented part of how many primate mothers steer their offspring toward feeding themselves and moving independently.

The footage does not explain Elino’s exact age or how long this weaning period lasts, so viewers should read the visible roughness as a stage in an ongoing relationship, not a single isolated event.

[“macaque”, “monkey weaning”, “wildlife footage”, “cambodia wildlife”, “primate behavior”, “monkey post”, “elsa and elino”]
Wildlife
[“The mother macaque is named Elsa and the infant is named Elino, part of the Amari troop filmed in Cambodia by Monkey Post.”, “Early footage shows Elsa and Elino resting together in a tree.”, “Later footage shows the pair on open, dry ground with Elsa gripping Elino firmly, mouth open.”, “Elino’s mouth area shows visible marks the filmmaker describes as red liquid.”, “The filmmaker frames this as Elsa weaning Elino, a behavior where mother macaques discourage continued nursing and clinging as infants grow.”]
Mother macaque Elsa grips baby Elino firmly during a weaning struggle on open ground