Punch, a baby Japanese macaque who found fame after being rejected by his mother and finding comfort in an Ikea Djungelskog plushie, is now outgrowing the toy and integrating with other monkeys at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo.
The seven-month-old macaque had been seen dragging the oversized toy orangutan around the enclosure, hugging it when other monkeys shooed him away. However, recent observations show Punch using the toy less and interacting more with his peers, climbing on their backs and being groomed.
Zookeeper Kosuke Kano said: 'Helping Punch learn the rules of monkey society and being accepted as a member is our most important task.' The zoo introduced viewing limits and quiet rules after Punch's popularity surged online, but officials are encouraged by his progress.
Punch was abandoned by his first-time mother after birth, possibly due to inexperience and a heatwave, according to primatologist Alison Behie. Zookeepers gave him the toy to train him to cling, a vital skill for newborn macaques.
Zoo director Shigekazu Mizushina said: 'When he grows out of the plush toy that encourages his independence, that's what we are hoping for.' Although Punch still sleeps with the toy at night, keepers hope he will soon huddle with other monkeys.
