Quick Take
- Yuji's mother didn't abandon him out of cruelty. Her reason is something most people would never guess. Kamaria's surprising reason →
- A stuffed dog is more than just a comfort object. It is filling a developmental role that could shape Yuji's entire future. See the stuffed dog's role →
- Yuji isn't a rare case. Maternal rejection happens across species for reasons that are more calculated than you'd expect. Explore rejection across species →
- What happens to a monkey raised without its mother isn't just sad. The science behind it is genuinely unsettling. See the unsettling science →
Punch, the baby macaque monkey, went viral for his heart-warming connection to an orangutan plushie that he carried with him after being abandoned by his mother. Now, another baby monkey—and his adorable plush toy—is capturing hearts online.
According to the Associated Press, Yuji is a 9-week-old patas monkey in Mexico who was born on March 3, 2026. His best friend is a stuffed dog. Like Punch, Yuji loves his stuffed animal friend after being rejected by his mom, Kamaria, who was not able to form a maternal bond with the tiny primate. Yuji weighed less than 1 pound when the staff at the Guadalajara Zoo in Mexico took him in for special treatment. Now, he is being cared for by 12 veterinarians and biologists.
Iván Reynoso Ruiz, head of the primate section at Guadalajara Zoo, told AP that Yuji won’t move to the patas habitat until he is weaned from his current milk-only diet, which will likely happen when he is around 6 months old and can eat a full adult diet.
Why Did Yuji’s Mother Reject Him?
Yuji’s mother, Kamaria, apparently was not ready to care for an infant. According to AP, Kamaria had difficulty holding her newborn correctly, which meant Yuji couldn’t get a secure grip on his mother. Because of this, keepers at the zoo separated Yuji from his mother and placed him in an incubator to keep the tiny monkey safe.
Patas monkeys are sometimes rejected by their mothers and need a stuffed animal to bond with instead.
©iStock.com/slowmotiongli
To provide the security Yuji would have felt from his mother’s embrace, he was given a large stuffed dog to cuddle and play with, helping to relieve his anxiety.
What Are the Long-Term Implications of Yuji’s Mother Rejecting Him?
Although the Guadalajara Zoo is doing its best to care for Yuji, being rejected by his mother at a young age could have significant consequences.
A 2021 study found that infant monkeys who were rejected by their moms were more aggressive, and the lack of care from their mother led to a cumulative negative effect on the infant as it grew. They also experienced higher stress levels without maternal care, and female monkeys’ future maternal skills were negatively affected.
Why Does Maternal Rejection in the Wild Happen?
Yuji is far from the only animal whose mother rejected him. An Asian elephant calf named Linh Mai was born on February 2, 2026, at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Her mother, Nhi Linh, also struggled to bond with her baby and has appeared uncomfortable—even frustrated and aggressive—near her daughter, leading zoo staff to take over her care.
According to BBC Science Focus Magazine, sometimes mothers will reject their young in order to survive, such as when food is scarce. Others may do so to teach their infants critical survival skills, according to National Geographic. Sometimes, as in Yuji’s case, a mother’s inexperience can cause her to reject her young, according to The Guardian.
Maternal rejection can occur in both humans and animals for a variety of biological and environmental reasons. Animal mothers have also been observed occasionally neglecting or abusing their offspring. That’s why it’s so important for zoo staff to monitor new mothers and infants in their care, ensuring the babies remain safe even without a caring mother.
