Ichikawa, Japan: Punch, a seven-month-old baby macaque who stole the hearts of animal lovers worldwide, is gradually outgrowing the Ikea djungelskog plush toy that comforted him after he was initially rejected by his mother and other monkeys at the Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo.
Images of Punch dragging a toy larger than himself around the enclosure drew attention from visitors and social media users, showing the tiny macaque clutching the stuffed orangutan whenever other monkeys tried to shoo him away.
Recently, Punch has begun mingling more with other macaques, climbing on their backs, sitting alongside adults, and occasionally receiving grooming or hugs. Visitors have flocked to the zoo to witness his progress, with video clips showing him increasingly independent and socially engaged.
Maternal abandonment
Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, likely due to exhaustion. Zookeepers cared for him and provided the toy to encourage clinging, a crucial survival skill for newborn macaques. Early footage showed Punch wandering alone with his plush companion, being chased by older Japanese macaques, and tightly clutching the toy while being harassed.
The videos prompted questions about why monkeys sometimes abandon their offspring. Alison Behie, a primatology expert at Australian National University, explained that while maternal abandonment is unusual, it can occur under certain circumstances, such as inexperience, health issues, or stressful environmental conditions.
Behie noted that Punch’s mother was a first-time mother, and he was born during a heatwave, creating a high-stress environment that may have influenced her decision to prioritize her own health and future reproduction over caring for the infant.
Following the viral attention, the zoo introduced rules asking visitors to remain quiet and limited viewing times to 10 minutes to reduce stress for Punch and the approximately 50 other macaques in the enclosure.
Zoo officials have observed encouraging signs that Punch is spending less time with his plush toy. “When he grows out of the plush that encourages his independence, that’s what we are hoping for,” said Director Shigekazu Mizushina.
Although Punch still sleeps with the stuffed orangutan at night, zookeepers hope he will soon sleep huddled with other monkeys, indicating full social integration.
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