Baby monkey ‘Punch’ wins hearts after becoming attached to soft toy
Meet Punch, a wee little baby monkey who proves that humans aren’t the only primates to become attached to particular cuddly toy when they’re anxious and lonely. Watch the adorable video
READING LEVEL: ORANGE
The story of Punch, the baby Japanese macaque who carries a stuffed toy, has captivated the world.
Punch-kun, as he is affectionately known, was reportedly born in July 2025 but was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth.
Caretakers at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan stepped in to rescue and hand-raise him, closely monitoring his growth while gradually introducing him to other macaques.
However, when caretakers moved him into an enclosure with other monkeys, they noticed he was struggling to become part of the group.
It’s very common for monkeys to cling to their mothers from birth but poor little Punch never had that chance. So to help with his anxiety and loneliness, the keepers gave him an oversized stuffed orang-utan that he’s now established a strong bond with, taking it everywhere he goes.
According to local reports, he treats it like the mother he never had; sleeping with it, eating with it and playing with it.
One of the zookeepers that hand-raised him, Kosuke Shikano, told Japanese newspaper The Mainichi that he and his team tried different comfort objects, including a rolled up towel and other stuffed animals, before Punch chose the orang-utan.
“The stuffed animal’s fur made it easy to grab, and its appearance is also similar to a monkey, which likely provided a sense of security,” Mr Shikano said.
Punch formed such a close bond with the toy that when keepers left for the evening, he snuggled up with it while sleeping.
“The stuffed animal was a surrogate* mother,” Mr Shikano said.
The six-month old’s attachment to the stuffed animal reportedly not only surprised staff at the zoo but has captured the hearts of people across Japan, and the world.
Images of Punch with the toy have since gone viral*, melting hearts online.
Huge lines have also formed at the zoo as both locals and tourists swarm to get a glimpse of Punch, expressing their well wishes and cheering him on.
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who visited us today,” the zoo said in a statement on February 15.
“All of our staff were surprised by the unexpected turnout, something we have never experienced before.
“We would like apologise for the delay in getting you through the gate. We will continue to prepare for next week’s three-day weekend so that you can enjoy your visit in comfort.”
Many have taken to social media to share their experiences visiting Punch at the zoo.
“I went to see Punch. ï¸ÂHe showed off his cute little toy, running and lying around,” one person wrote on social media platform X.
“I went to see Punch-kun, but the other animals were also so close and cute, it was a lot of fun. I’m sure the shop staff were really tired from the crowds. I’m rooting for you.”
Another wrote: “We visited the zoo today! There wasn’t much of a line when we entered, but there was a huge line when we left. People were there to see Punch! Indeed, the monkey mountain* was packed even in the morning. The kids seemed to love the park area! We hope to visit again soon!”
One person said while “cute” it’s also “very sad”.
“It is cute to see the little monkey dragging the stuffed animal around but it is very sad at the same time.”
Others expressed their concerns for Punch-kun’s wellbeing.
“I really hope Punch finds his place. Zoos do vital work for animal welfare, and seeing the staff support Punch through his struggles shows their deep commitment. It’s a heartwarming effort,” one person commented in response to the zoo’s X statement.
“It’s a wonderful zoo, with a laid-back atmosphere and a close connection to the animals. I’m worried that the sudden surge in activity might tire out the other animals, even if it’s only temporary. Please put the animals first (though I’m sure the staff are most concerned about this),” wrote another.
In a separate post, the zoo said Punch was “gradually deepening his interactions with the other monkeys in his group”.
“He has a variety of experiences every day, such as being groomed, messing around with them, and being scolded, and he is learning every day how to live in a group as a monkey!”
Japanese macaques not in captivity live in the forested mountain slopes and hilly regions of the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu and some smaller islands. Some macaques are used to very cold weather, with many living at altitudes of around 3000m, but they are known to move to lower regions during winter – and even keep warm by bathing in Honshu’s hot springs. They are nomadic* animals, which means they like to move around freely each day foraging* for food and usually find a new place to sleep each night – often on steep cliffs or in trees, depending on the season and weather.
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GLOSSARY
- surrogate: in place of his real mother
- viral: when a video or photo is shared rapidly and widely over the internet
- monkey mountain: the name of the zoo’s monkey enclosure
- nomadic: animals that move from place to place depending on environmental conditions rather than staying in one specific territory
- foraging: searching for food
EXTRA READING
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QUICK QUIZ
1. What type of monkey is Punch?
2. How old is he?
3. Why does he carry a stuffed orang-utan?
4. Where in Japan would you normally find monkeys like Punch in the wild?
5. What are nomadic animals?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What can they do?
What steps do you think the zoo keepers could take to help Punch integrate more with the other macaques? Write a list. Next to each step, write a sentence that explains why this will help.
Time: allow at least 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science
2. Extension
What do you think are the similarities and differences between human behaviour and macaque behaviour? Use information from the story to help you to answer this question.
Time: allow at least 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Science
VCOP ACTIVITY
Punctuation thief
Pick a paragraph from the article, or about three sentences together if that’s easier, and rewrite it without the punctuation. At the bottom of the page write a list of all the punctuation you stole and in the order you stole it. For example; C , . C .
Then swap your book with another person and see if they can work out where the punctuation needs to be restored.
Make it easier: Underline where you stole the punctuation from but don’t put the list at the bottom in order.
Make it harder:
- Don’t put the punctuation in order at the bottom.
- Underline where you took the punctuation from, but don’t tell them what pieces you took.
- Just tell them how many pieces you took, but not what they are.
- Don’t give them any clues!