A viral video from Mandi's Rewalsar shows a monkey holding a stray puppy 20 feet above the ground, sparking debate over changing animal behavior.

 A viral video showing a monkey carrying a stray puppy up a tree in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district has triggered widespread discussion online and among local residents. The incident, which took place in the Rewalsar area, filmed a primate holding the young canine nearly 20 feet above the ground on a tree branch, keeping locals on the edge for several minutes.

Tense moments in Rewalsar

The incident occurred over the weekend when onlookers noticed a rhesus macaque lifting a small stray puppy. Within moments, the monkey scaled a nearby tree, balancing the puppy in its arms.

Witnesses gathered beneath the tree, anxious that the primate might drop the young animal. However, onlookers noted that the puppy remained surprisingly calm throughout the ten-minute ordeal, showing no visible signs of panic or struggle while perched high above the ground.

Locals flag safety worries

While the unusual encounter ended peacefully, it has left the local community divided. Some residents view it as a rare display of interspecies affection, while others see it as a warning sign of unpredictable wildlife behavior in human-dominated spaces.

"When the monkey climbed the tree carrying the puppy, everyone present became concerned about its safety," said Ajay Surya, a resident of Rewalsar who witnessed the event. "The monkey was sitting nearly 20 feet above the ground. If it had dropped the puppy, the fall could have been fatal. Fortunately, it brought it down safely and released it."

Surya added that while this specific incident concluded without injury, it has renewed anxieties among parents regarding the safety of young children playing outdoors, given the high population of monkeys in the town.

Experts point to maternal instinct

Wildlife enthusiasts suggest the behavior might stem from deep-rooted biological drives rather than aggression. The gentle handling of the canine has led observers to believe the primate may have been a female driven by maternal instincts.

Narendra Saini, a wildlife enthusiast and president of the Devbhoomi Environment Protection Forum, noted that such cross-species interactions, though rare, are documented. "There have been several instances in the past where animals have shown affection toward the young of other species. After watching the viral video, it appeared to me that the monkey may have been female. Female monkeys display stronger nurturing instincts," Saini explained.

Changing patterns in wildlife

The incident has also caught the attention of forest officials, who view it through the lens of shifting environmental conditions and increasing human-wildlife interface.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and wildlife expert S.S. Kashyap stated that altering climate patterns and habituation to human environments are modifying traditional animal behavior. "Monkeys are highly intelligent animals and are quick to imitate behaviors, much like humans. Even species that are generally considered rivals can sometimes display friendly or affectionate behavior toward one another," Kashyap said.

The puppy, confirmed to be a local stray, was left completely uninjured after the monkey carefully descended the trunk and placed it back on the ground before retreating into the canopy.