The baby monkey who captured hearts online after being left by his mother and becoming attached to a stuffed animal is now beginning to socialize with other monkeys.
A baby Japanese macaque named Punch was born on July 26, 2025, at the Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Japan. Sadly, his mother didn’t accept him, so zoo staff had to take over and raise him themselves to help him survive.
After being separated from his mother, Punch formed a close bond with a stuffed orangutan given to him by his caretakers. Pictures and videos of him holding the toy for comfort became popular online, and people around the world showed their support using the hashtag “Stay strong, Punch.”
It was tough, but Punch is finally starting to outgrow his favorite stuffed animal and is now happily playing with other monkeys.
Punch slowly begins integrating with monkey group
When Punch first arrived at the monkey enclosure, the other macaques were initially wary of him, according to TV Asahi.
Because he didn’t have a mother raising him, Punch didn’t learn typical monkey social skills, and the other monkeys were hesitant to interact with him at first.
So, a video went viral on February 17th showing Punch going around and hanging out with the other monkeys. It was really heartwarming – there’s even a part where another monkey is clearly looking after him!
It will take a while for him to fully adjust, but the zookeepers are optimistic he’ll eventually be able to interact with the other monkeys and become a normal member of the group.
According to zookeeper Miyakoshi Shunpei, Punch, a Japanese macaque, was initially anxious and constantly held onto a stuffed animal. However, he quickly adjusted, becoming more confident and spending time with the other monkeys. Miyakoshi described Punch as a remarkably resilient animal.
We’ll continue to update this article as new developments emerge, including whether Punch is fully accepted by the troop. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back regularly for the latest updates on his progress.
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2026-02-17 17:52