Cover Image: Sample Image Pixabay
In the tropical landscapes of Vietnam, where jungle forests harbor a realm of wild primates, a story has unfolded that painfully blurs the boundaries between human and animal, love and law, viral fame and ethical responsibility.At its center is Kaka, a playful macaque whose name echoes through social media—a small monkey who, in the eyes of millions of followers, became a symbol of innocence and joy. Yet behind the adorable videos that garnered hundreds of thousands of clicks lurked dark shadows.
Dressing the female macaque in diapers and little outfits, making her run on two legs, and forcing her to live as a hybrid between human and ape is an expression of contempt for the monkey, not love for an animal.
Illegal practices that put the owner in the authorities‘ spotlight, a confiscation that turned the animal’s life upside down, and a wave of outrage that spread to the farthest corners of the world. This narrative revolves around Ngoc, the owner whose YouTube channel „Monkey Kaka“ created a global phenomenon; around dubious methods to attract attention; around the strict hand of Vietnam’s wildlife protection authorities; and around a counter-campaign that incites the public against these institutions—a spiral of controversy that continues to reverberate as of November 2025, raising questions about animal rights, corruption, and cultural conflicts.It all began a few years ago in Thanh Hoa Province, a region regarded as the heart of Vietnam’s monkey population, where macaques—including species like the stump-tailed macaque or the rhesus macaque—are native to the forests but increasingly fall victim to the black market. Ngoc, an ambitious content creator, discovered Kaka as a juvenile in an illegal trade, where wild animals are torn from the forests and marketed as pets.Instead of releasing the animal or reporting it as required by law, he integrated Kaka into his home—an improvised, chaotic habitat in a converted office building without adequate sanitation, as critics later revealed.
The monkey, who never knew the freedom of the forest, became a star. Videos showed her playing with toys, nibbling on fruits, or interacting with the family, including Ngoc’s partner and later the younger monkey Mit, whom he adopted as a „companion.
„These clips, full of heartwarming moments, exploded on YouTube and TikTok, attracting millions of views and turning Kaka into an internet icon. But what appeared as harmless entertainment concealed serious violations. Keeping macaques as pets is strictly prohibited in Vietnam, as these species are protected under wildlife conservation laws. Thousands of monkeys are poached annually—stolen from the wild and sold to laboratories, traditional medicine, or as „exotic“ companions—and authorities struggle with a flood of cases that overwhelm their capacities.Ngoc knew this but ignored it, driven by the adrenaline of click counts that secured his income. Reports suggest he not only kept Kaka and Mit but possibly also Puka, a third animal that later met a tragic end—all without a license, fueling accusations of exploitation.The owner’s „most vile machinations“ lay not only in the illegality but in the public presentation. By staging the monkeys as „family members,“ he normalized the illegal trade, inspired others to similar acts, and unwittingly contributed to the demand that decimates wild populations.
Controversial voices accused him of instrumentalizing the animals for profit, keeping them in cramped spaces far removed from their natural needs, and even hints of neglect as Kaka grew thinner and less „obedient“ with age, sparking speculation about an imminent „replacement“ monkey.Then came the turning point. In June 2024, after months of monitoring by the NGO Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), a leading force in combating wildlife trafficking, Kaka, along with Mit and possibly Puka, was confiscated by authorities. ENV, which processes hundreds of tips annually and cooperates with local authorities, had identified the channel as a prime example of illegal entertainment—a case that not only broke the law but reached millions and glamorized the trade.The raid was precise. Officials stormed the house, took the animals into custody, and transported them to Bến En National Park, a protected area serving as a rehabilitation site. There, Kaka and Mit were to be „renatured“—a process gradually acclimating them to life in the wild, far from human influences. For the authorities, this was a victory in the war against the black market.
Macaques kept as pets often suffer from stress, inadequate nutrition, and diseases, and their release or relocation to sanctuaries protects not only the individuals but the population as a whole. Vietnam, as a signatory to international agreements like CITES, has intensified enforcement in recent years, documenting confiscations of over 1,500 macaques annually and establishing centers to combat overpopulation and poor conditions. Yet for Kaka, who had known only human closeness since birth, this marked the start of trauma. Reports describe how she and Mit were housed in cramped cages with unfamiliar monkeys, far from their familiar toys, fruits, and family.
Puka, the youngest member, collapsed within a month—depression, loss of appetite, and an early death were blamed on ENV representatives, who diagnosed it as a consequence of separation, while critics decried bureaucratic rigidity and a lack of case-by-case evaluation. However, the sole blame lies with Ngoc, who prioritized profit over all laws.Renaturation, involving behavioral observation and gradual release, is scientifically sound—studies show that habituated primates can thrive in sanctuaries—yet in Kaka’s case, it seemed cruel. Videos secretly filmed by Ngoc show the monkeys calling out desperately, emaciated and disoriented, igniting debate over their welfare. Is it truly protection to tear an animal from an—even if illegal—loving bond, only to thrust it into isolation that leads to psychological breakdown?Or was confiscation the only way to set a precedent and curb the trade?Here, Ngoc enters the stage as the antagonist of the authorities, a man who, despite his wrongdoing, rises to moral authority. The owner, who should never have kept Kaka in the first place, transformed his grief into a masterful campaign. Immediately after the confiscation, he launched a wave of mobilization, leveraging his international fans—a community from Europe, the US, and Asia that revered Kaka as a „daughter“—and promised rewards to anyone who helped retrieve the animals. Petitions exploded on platforms like Change.org.
One demands the return of Kaka, Mit, and Puka to their „human families,“ arguing with emotional bonds and comparing the case to precedents like Molly, the magpie in Australia that returned in 2024 after public pressure, or Bibi, a Vietnamese macaque allowed back to its owner in 2023 while sick and traumatized.Another petition attacks ENV and allies like the Social Media Animal Cruelty Coalition (SMACC) as „bureaucratically corrupt,“ accusing them of destroying happy monkeys while real poachers and abusers go unpunished. Ngoc filmed visits to the national park, showcased Kaka’s misery in sensational clips, and appealed to global sensitivity: „See how the authorities cause suffering!“ His narratives—supported by Substack articles and Reddit threads—painted ENV as a heartless regime operating in a „communist“ context where dissent is suppressed.He even threatened revelations about alleged threats against supporters who sent letters to the government and compared the situation to international successes where animals returned home after protests. This incitement worked.
Millions shared stories portraying Vietnamese authorities as rigid and inhumane, while Ngoc’s channel, despite a pause, boomed through fan content. Alliances formed worldwide—from PETA, which denounces the broader monkey trade in Vietnam, to animal lovers arguing that channels like Monkey Kaka are educational and expose abuse rather than promote it.Ngoc positioned himself as a victim-hero fighting an overpowering bureaucracy, ignoring his own role in the system he co-criticizes. His actions evoked not only empathy for Kaka but stoked anti-Vietnam sentiments. Forums filled with accusations of „state animal cruelty,“ petitions garnered thousands of signatures appealing to President Luong Cuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and even Buddhist values like compassion were instrumentalized to discredit the authorities—ironic, given Vietnam’s promotion of these principles in international forums.By November 2025, the affair has grown into a global media spectacle that exposes tensions between animal protection and individual freedom. Kaka and Mit continue to languish in the park, their renaturation stalled by ongoing protests, and Ngoc’s campaign has not only multiplied his reach but increased pressure on ENV, now grappling with accusations of arbitrariness. Experts like biologists and NGOs emphasize that the illegal pet trade in Vietnam—with estimates of thousands of confiscated macaques annually—threatens biodiversity, and cases like this must deter poaching.
Yet emotional charge dominates. Ngoc’s supporters see the story as a metaphor for state overreach, citing studies showing how primates bond in human care and how separation triggers depression. Opponents counter that true love does not involve illegality and that renaturation, despite initial suffering, secures the animals‘ long-term welfare. One thing is clear: the monkeys must never return to Ngoc.The debate rages worldwide in forums, petitions, and articles, portraying Vietnam as a country making progress in environmental protection—with stricter laws and international cooperation—but failing in sensitivity in individual cases. Ngoc’s incitement has succeeded.The public, especially in the West, now distrusts Vietnamese authorities, while local voices fearfully remain silent, dreading reprisals in a system that stifles criticism. Ultimately, Kaka remains collateral damage in this war—a monkey born for clicks, saved for laws, and sacrificed for outrage. The story warns: In a world where virality shapes reality, animal protection must not only enforce laws but win hearts to prevent cruelty without creating new ones. Whether Kaka ever returns home, whether renaturation succeeds, or whether Ngoc’s crusade leads to reforms—one thing is certain.
This saga has sensitized the world, but at what cost?The macaque is reportedly pregnant. The young should be born in freedom, far from the unspeakably greedy Ngoc and his shameful theater around his monkey daughter.
