US EditionPunch the monkey: Why do we love him so much and how is he doing now?
- Punch, an infant Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, has been gradually introduced to other troop members, drawing viral online attention in recent months.
- After maternal rejection in July 2025, staff assigned two handlers who began continuous feeding and monitoring right after Punch's birth, with Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi overseeing care.
- According to his zookeeper, Miyakoshi, Punch relies less on the stuffed orangutan toy and is now communicating with other monkeys, reaching milestones.
- Fans and visitors have responded, with the handlers gaining fame as the 'Punch Papas', celebrity visitor Lisa boosting attention, and fans saying, 'We need this warmth and love right now'.
- The zoo says the long-term aim is for Punch to live independently within the troop without ongoing human assistance, as hand-raised primates must learn social behaviour and hierarchy cues while older macaques show dominant behaviour during controlled introductions.
35 Articles
35 Articles
How Blackpink’s Lisa and Viral Monkey Punch Captivated Social Media This Weekend
Lisa spent part of her time in Japan meeting one of the internet’s most recognizable animal stars. During a visit to Ichikawa City Zoo, she stopped by to see Punch, the baby monkey that has drawn wide attention online for its small size and playful personality. Photos from the outing showed Lisa smiling near the enclosure and posing with an orangutan plush toy tied to Punch’s growing popularity. The visit quickly caught attention across social m…
Who Are the 'Punch Papas'? Meet the Zookeepers Caring for Viral Monkey Punch
Global attention surrounding a young Japanese macaque known as Punch has also highlighted two animal handlers at Ichikawa City Zoo. As videos of the infant macaque circulated widely on social media, viewers began identifying zookeepers Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi as the primary caretakers responsible for the animal's early survival. The two staff members, often referred to online as the 'Punch Papas', work as animal keepers responsible …
His tenderness attracts visitors, but experts warn about the risks of the medical exhibition.
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