The video you shared is “Baby Macaque Bullied” by BBC Earth. It shows how life can be difficult for a young macaque living in a troop with a strict social hierarchy. BBC Earth describes macaque society as being strongly controlled by higher-ranking members.
🐒 What is happening?
- The baby macaque is in a vulnerable position because it is young and low-ranking.
- Older or higher-ranking macaques may chase, push, grab, or discipline younger animals.
- To human viewers, this can look like bullying, but these interactions can also serve as part of macaque social learning and hierarchy enforcement.
- The baby has to learn how to behave around stronger members of the troop and how to navigate the group’s social rules.
😢 Why does the baby seem so helpless?
Macaque infants normally rely heavily on their mothers for protection and social support. Their position within the troop is also influenced by their mother’s social status. Researchers studying Japanese macaques explain that being without a mother can make it particularly difficult for an infant to integrate into the group.
