Caregiver shares the story of Punch, the abandoned baby monkey

Punch, a baby macaque monkey who was abandoned by his mother after birth in Japan, has garnered significant attention on social media with images of him hugging his plush toy.

According to reports in the national press, Punch, who was born in July 2025 at a zoo in the city of Ichikawa in Chiba Prefecture, was abandoned because his mother was exhausted.

Following this, zoo staff raised the baby monkey using artificial care methods. Punch was released into a natural habitat known as "Monkey Mountain" in Tokyo in January.

Officials provided towels, blankets, and plush toys to reduce Punch's anxiety, as baby monkeys tend to cling tightly to their mothers during the first year of their lives. Punch's preference for hugging a plush orangutan in particular caught the attention of visitors.

"IT BECAME HIS FAVORITE PLUSH TOY"

Zoo official Takashi Yasunaga told reporters, "We gave Punch various objects to hold onto, but the plush toy became his favorite."

Yasunaga stated, "I can feel his development closely. He still cannot eat enough on his own. He often clings to the staff or spends time alone, separate from the troop."

Images of Punch, who weighs approximately 2 kilograms, hugging his plush toy out of longing for his mother, spread quickly on social media.

Experts noted that Punch's mother may have abandoned her offspring because it was her first birth and she was extremely exhausted afterward.

News Source: 12punto