US EditionWhy Has Punch, an Adorable Baby Monkey, Struggled to Fit in With His Troop? Scientists Explain the Lives of Japanese Macaques
Punch, rejected by his mother and hand-reared by zookeepers, struggles to fit into the macaque social hierarchy but shows gradual progress, zoo officials said.
- Viral footage released in February shows Punch, a 7-month-old macaque born last July at Ichikawa City Zoo, being shoved by older monkeys after his January introduction to the troop.
- Punch's mother, a first-time mother, rejected him shortly after birth, with experts citing her inexperience and heatwave exhaustion during labor as likely contributors.
- Zookeepers nursed Punch and provided a stuffed orangutan surrogate, while Ikea's $20 Djungelskog plush sold out and visitor limits protect more than 50 other monkeys.
- Keepers report gradual reintroduction and social progress, with a female adult grooming Punch and recent videos showing him playing and sitting with adults; BBC Breakfast hosts Naga and Charlie Stayt said, 'Naga continued'.
- Primate experts caution that what looks like bullying is often normal social teaching, while Harry Harlow's experiments and attachment theory explain Punch's toy comfort, and experts warn viral fame risks unsafe pet desires.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Everyone’s Talking About Punch the Monkey—Here’s Why We’re All So Invested in the Little Guy’s Journey to Love and Acceptance
There I was, mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, when I saw him. He was under 2 feet tall, sporting big, mournful eyes and tightly clutching a stuffed orangutan. I couldn’t look away.Of course, I am talking about Punch, the world’s sweetest, saddest little monkey. One look at him, and it’s clear that all he wants is love. Well, he’s gotten it, though not in quite the way he intended. Much of the internet has fallen in love with him—myself, i…
Punch the orphan macaque is outgrowing his plushie and making friends
ICHIKAWA, Japan (AP) — Punch the baby orphan macaque is outgrowing the orangutan plushie that comforted him through early rejection from his mother and other monkeys. Images of Punch dragging around the toy bigger than him drew attention to the residents of a zoo near Tokyo. When other monkeys shooed the baby away, Punch rushed back to the toy orangutan, hugging it for comfort. But he’s been using the toy less. On a recent day, Punch was seen cl…
Punch, the baby monkey who went viral after being rejected by his mother and taking refuge in a stuffed orangutan, is once again causing a stir. A video shows the moment another monkey from the troop attacks him, while his story continues to generate reactions on social media.
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