A tiny macaque baby from Japan unexpectedly became an internet favorite. The story of the little monkey named Punch touched many after videos of it began to spread from the Ichikawa zoo.
Punch was born in July 2025, but from the very first moments it had a difficult fate. Its mother rejected it immediately after birth, so the baby was left alone. The zoo staff immediately intervened and took over its care.
The caretakers fed it from a bottle and constantly paid attention to replacing the bonding and security that a baby usually receives from its mother. They knew that for young monkeys, closeness and touch are crucial.
That is why Punch was given blankets and various toys, including a soft plush orangutan. The little monkey almost immediately chose this toy, which soon became its most important companion.
Since then, the plush orangutan is almost always with it. Punch often hugs it when it sleeps, and many times hides its face in it, as if seeking safety in it.
The videos that appeared on the social media site X spread quickly. In the recordings it can be seen how Punch holds the toy tightly while resting, or carefully observing its surroundings.
IN OTHER VIDEOS IT CAN ALSO BE SEEN THAT WHEN THE LITTLE MONKEY DARES TO APPROACH THE OTHER MONKEYS, IT HOLDS THE PLUSH TOY ALMOST LIKE A SHIELD NEXT TO IT.
In other videos it can also be seen that when the little monkey dares to approach the other monkeys, it holds the plush toy almost like a shield next to it. In this way it tries to preserve its sense of security while exploring the others.
In mid-January, the caretakers began to gradually introduce Punch into a smaller group of monkeys. The goal is that over time it will form natural relationships with its peers, while slowly letting go of the one companion that has provided comfort to it until now.
