She had the best surprise for him …
About four years ago, American photographer Casey Cooper had a life-changing encounter with Mikah — a spider monkey rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. She was living at ONCA Wildlife Rescue, a sanctuary in Bolivia dedicated to saving and rehabilitating wild animals.
“I was really nervous at first because she’s a pretty large spider monkey,” Cooper told The Dodo. “She gave me this curious, almost skeptical look. Then out of nowhere, she walked over, jumped up, and wrapped her arms around my neck in a gentle hug. She just held on for a long time. It was incredible.”
“I fell in love with her instantly,” he said.
Mikah had once been kept as a pet, comfortable around humans, but now she faced a different challenge: relearning how to live wild. The goal was to reunite her with a troop of wild monkeys and release her back into the lush Amazon rainforest.
Cooper, volunteering at ONCA, threw himself into helping Mikah adjust. “We spent six to eight hours together every day,” he said. “I supervised her interactions with the wild troop, making sure the females wouldn’t attack her. They can be very protective, especially of new, alpha-sized females.”
Whenever Mikah felt unsure, she sought comfort in Cooper. “I’d take her away from the group to a safe spot,” he explained. “I was her safe place as she was slowly reintroduced to the wild.”
Finally, the day came when Mikah was accepted by the troop. She returned to the rainforest and began thriving.
Cooper was overjoyed but also deeply missed her. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever see Mikah again — until a couple of years later.
During a recent visit to the sanctuary, Cooper ventured deep into the forest near Mikah’s home. Suddenly, there she was. Or rather, she found him.
“She locked eyes with me immediately,” Cooper said. “She climbed down from a tree and came right up to me, giving me a hug.”
Mikah had a surprise to share. “She made it clear she was pregnant,” Cooper recalled. “It was like she was saying, ‘Look where I am now.’ I definitely teared up. You form such a strong bond with these animals.”
A friend captured the touching reunion on video, which Cooper shared on Instagram.
But as much as he loved the moment, Cooper knew Mikah’s wild life had to come first. “After the hug, I gently pushed her off and walked away,” he said. “It was a beautiful encounter, but when working with wildlife, maintaining distance is crucial.”