-
PUNCH THE ORPHAN BABY MONKEY
I have been following Punch the baby macaque monkey born on July 2025 in a Japanese Zoo on a very hot day. The mother had a difficult childbirth and abandoned the newborn Macaque from the day it was born which is very uncommon and unusual. Primates are very loving to its newborns and learn everything from its mother. I have been following the story of Punch the orphan baby monkey. From the day Punch was born, two zoo keepers have been taking care of Punch. The zoo keepers gave Punch an orangutan stuff monkey 🐒
Punch seeked comfort, love, security and a sense of unity with the baby orangutan. Here’s a video short of Punch the baby macaque.
-
15 Replies
-
Attached is another sweet video clip of Punch the 7 month old baby macaque
-
Great news on Punch Kun!!! Punch is making friends finally. Punch is a national sensation. https://youtu.be/BICu0qTFhzY?si=fU85Z02DcpiEvvom
-
Here’s a very cute video short about Punch and his Orangutan stuffed animal.
-
Punch the Orphan Baby Monkey: A Case Study in Macaque Recovery and Social Integration
In July 2025, a Japanese macaque was born at Ichikawa City Zoo, weighing 500 grams. His mother abandoned him shortly after birth. Two zookeepers became Punch’s guardian, his mother, his playmate, his caregiver.
Newborn macaques typically cling to their mothers for warmth, safety, and development, but Punch did not receive this care.
Zookeeper Kosuke Shikano explained that clinging to their mothers helps infant macaques build muscle strength and confidence. Without maternal contact, Punch sought other sources of comfort.
A Difficult Birth and a Mother’s Rejection
Zookeepers monitored the troop, hoping another female would adopt Punch, as sometimes happens in macaques. When this did not occur, the staff took responsibility for his care. Keepers Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi provided continuous support to meet all of Punch’s needs. Maternal care is essential for macaque survival and learning. With dedicated intervention and a suitable substitute, Punch began to recover and develop.
The Search for Comfort: Enter the Stuffed Orangutan
Without maternal care, Punch showed anxiety and restlessness. Rolled towels offered little comfort, but introducing a soft IKEA Djungelskog orangutan toy brought immediate relief.
Punch quickly formed a strong attachment to the toy, often cuddling and carrying it, which supported his emotional stability.
According to the zoo, “Providing a stuffed toy and towels to hold onto not only stimulates clinging to a mother but also prevents excessive dependence on humans.” Zookeeper Kosuke Shikano noted that the toy’s long hair and shape made it especially suitable. The staff named the toy “Ora-mama,” meaning Orangutan-mama.
A Viral Sensation and a Global Outpouring of Support
Images and videos of Punch with his orange plush companion quickly gained widespread attention online. The hashtag #HangInTherePunch trended internationally as people expressed support for his recovery.
Punch’s story drew many visitors to Ichikawa City Zoo and support from around the world. In February 2026, IKEA donated additional stuffed toys and supplies.
The zoo declined celebrity offers to adopt Punch, focusing on his integration with other macaques. Despite these efforts, Punch sometimes faced exclusion or aggression from the troop and sought comfort from his stuffed companion. These experiences, captured on video, contributed to his social learning. While he made progress, Punch continued to struggle with integration and remained most attached to the zookeepers and his IKEA toy. During feeding times, he often sought reassurance by holding onto his caretaker’s legs.
A Breakthrough: Finding Friends and a Place in the Troop
In early 2026, after a gradual reintroduction in January, Punch began forming social bonds with other macaques. A key milestone was recorded when another macaque groomed Punch’s fur, signaling group acceptance. He was also seen riding on another macaque’s back and playing with other juveniles, indicating increased social integration.
Primate expert Matt Lovatt stated, “It’s been great to see him starting to groom, because that’s the key way these primates can start to build up friendships with the monkeys within the group.”
Punch still seeks comfort from his stuffed orangutan during anxious moments, though his dependence is gradually decreasing. The zoo remains optimistic about his social integration. Punch’s experience shows that resilience, dedicated care, and external support can help overcome early adversity.
1 Citations
Abandoned monkey at zoo near Tokyo finds comfort in stuffed animal, creates buzz – The Mainichi
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260217/p2a/00m/0li/008000c
mainichi.jp
Abandoned monkey at zoo near Tokyo finds comfort in stuffed animal, creates buzz - The Mainichi
ICHIKAWA, Chiba -- A Japanese macaque at a zoo here who was abandoned by his mother has found comfort in a stuffed animal, and many people both on- an
-
Here is a. Update on Punch, the orphaned Japanese long hair Macaque monkey.
-
Punch the Japanese Long Hair Macaque monkey cherishes his orangutan orange stuff toy. Look at the attached video short where a larger monkey steals the orangutan stuffed toy.
-
Great to see many older monkeys befriend Punch the Long Hair Japanese Macaque monkey.
-
A must watch. Punch realizes he left his orangutan stuffed toy in enemy territory and runs to rescue the orangutan. He grabs it and runs back to the safety of his keeper.
-
Look and watch Punch the baby Japanese Macaque Long Hair monkey on how he imitates his favorite 8zio keeper.
Log in to reply.