Punch The Monkey Is Going to Be Okay, and So Will You
The six-month-old macaque who captured global attention, punch the monkey is showing signs of social recovery at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan after months spent clinging to a stuffed orangutan as a surrogate companion.
Punch The Monkey Finds Company and Grooming
Videos and images that went viral showed the baby macaque cuddling and parading a plush orangutan through his enclosure, and caretakers say those lonely early weeks have given way to interaction: keepers shared footage of another monkey grooming him and of young monkeys playing together, marking a clear step toward acceptance.
Ora-mama, extra plushies and a brand visit
Keeper statements named the stuffed animal as a comforting stand-in and the toy has even been nicknamed "Ora-mama. " The zoo posted on its X account asking fans to "Please watch over Punch’s growth with warm support, " and later showed scenes of Punch hugging a peer and receiving his first grooming from a fellow monkey. IKEA Japan sent the zoo several more plushies, and the company’s president paid a recent visit during which the donations were handed over.
Fans line up at Ichikawa City Zoo
The story prompted an unexpected influx of visitors to the Ichikawa City Zoo, with photos shared by staff showing lines of fans who came specifically to see Punch. Footage that captured a peer pushing him away earlier in his stay underscored how fragile the situation once was; more recent clips show him climbing onto the backs of other young monkeys and being embraced by an older individual.
Care staff described the change in plain terms. Caretaker Shumpei Miyakoshi said he is "actively engaging with other monkeys, " and another keeper, Kosuke Shikano, explained that the stuffed animal’s fur and monkey-like appearance likely provided a sense of security early on, acting as a surrogate mother.
Zoo officials and the caretaking team treat grooming as a meaningful milestone: grooming is more than just hygiene; it signals trust, bonding and acceptance within the group. That concrete sign of social bonding means Punch is moving from human-dependent behavior toward normal troop interaction at the Ichikawa City Zoo.
The zoo continues to post videos of Punch’s interactions and has asked the public to watch his growth with warm support; visitors are still coming to the enclosure to see the young macaque in person.
