Rejected Baby Monkey Punch Finds Family, Dumps Stuffed Toy for Real Companionship

• Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque, was rejected by his mother shortly after birth in July 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo.
• Zookeepers gave Punch a stuffed orangutan, dubbed "Ora-mama," for comfort, leading to viral videos and the hashtag #KeepGoingPunch.
• Punch was recently seen being groomed by an older monkey in the "Monkey Mountain" enclosure, signifying acceptance into the troop.
• He is now engaging in playful antics with other young monkeys, even setting aside his famous toy.
• Zookeepers Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi worked for months to reintroduce Punch, noting his mental strength and resilience.