Abandoned baby monkey Punch goes viral after bonds with cuddly toy at Japanese zoo
Photo: X
A six-month-old baby monkey named Punch has drawn widespread attention after being filmed clinging to a cuddly toy for comfort following rejection by his mother.
Punch, a young macaque living at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, was abandoned shortly after birth in July last year. Zoo visitors recently captured footage of the infant snuggling a stuffed orangutan dubbed 'Ora-mama', which keepers provided to help ease his distress.
Little Punch, scared by the bigger monkeys, jumps into a hole and tries to drag Ora-mama in… she’s too big, yet he keeps going, and it’s pure heart-melt 🥹pic.twitter.com/LbpqppKhEO
Videos shows Punch sitting on top of the toy, appearing to suck his thumb before leaning forward to cuddle it. In other clips, he carries the plush companion around the enclosure he shares with other macaques, rarely letting it out of sight. He has also been seen sleeping with the toy, wrapping his arms around it.
Zoo keeper Kosuke Shikano said maternal rejection can occur in certain circumstances. “The burden of her [Punch’s mother] first birth may have been a factor,” Shikano explained. “In the monkey mountain troop, other mother monkeys sometimes take on childcare, so we observed from a distance on the day of birth, but there were no such signs. Since Punch was healthy, we temporarily separated him from the troop and began hand feeding him with milk.”
Infant monkeys instinctively cling to their mothers from birth, prompting staff to provide blankets and soft toys. “The stuffed animal’s fur made it easy to grab, and its appearance is also similar to a monkey, which likely provided a sense of security,” Shikano added.
Another keeper, Shumpei Miyakoshi said Punch is gradually integrating with a small group of macaques. “He’s actively engaging with other monkeys, and I can feel he’s growing up,” he said.
The zoo confirmed Punch’s story in a statement on X, noting: “Currently, there is a young monkey carrying a stuffed toy in the monkey mountain enclosure”.
Visitors and social media users have responded with messages of support as Punch continues to adjust to life with his troop, his stuffed companion never far away.