This dog plays the role of surrogate mother to this baby monkey at a tour operator in the Micronesian island of Palau. The pair are inseparable. The dog eagerly waits, tail wagging, tongue hanging out near the monkey’s cage as the monkey impatiently paces, waiting for his cage to be opened so that he can be reunited with his “mom.” Once out, all it takes is one agile jump to the dog’s back and there he stays the entire day, being chauffeured about, only hopping off to grab a piece of fruit from a tourist before just as quickly jumping back on. He grooms his new “mom”, sleeps on her back and appears to feel safe when he’s with her. His affection for his new “mom” is obvious and the affection is equally returned, with the dog protecting him from tourists who get to close by simply walking off to a quieter place. As I watched these two interact for over an hour, it became clear to me that love has no boundaries.
How the monkey got there though is an altogether different story and a much sadder one…to be continued.
This photo has been submitted as part of Travel Photo Thursday by Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox. Check out her site for more travel photos.
