A baby macaque named Punch, who found fame after seeking 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 was rejected by his mother after birth, presumably due to exhaustion, and initially relied on the toy for comfort when other monkeys shooed him away.
Recent observations show Punch climbing on the backs of other macaques, sitting with adults, and occasionally being groomed or hugged. Zookeeper Kosuke Kano, 24, said: “Helping Punch learn the rules of monkey society and being accepted as a member is our most important task.” Visitors have flocked to see him, with 61-year-old Sanae Izumi from Osaka expressing relief at his progress.
Punch was nursed by zookeepers and given the toy to train him to cling, a vital skill for newborn macaques. Early footage showed him dragging the toy while being chased or harassed by older monkeys. The videos sparked questions about monkey abandonment, which primatologist Alison Behie of Australian National University said can occur due to factors like inexperience or environmental stress, noting Punch’s mother was a first-time mother and he was born during a heatwave.
Punch’s popularity led the zoo to enforce quiet rules and limit viewing times to 10 minutes to reduce stress among its 50 monkeys. 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.
