Viral Baby Macaque Punch Gradually Joins Troop at Japan's Ichikawa Zoo

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'Hang in there, Punch': Viral baby macaque adapts to troop at Japan zoo

Punch became an internet sensation after videos showed him clinging to the plush toy, an orangutan doll from IKEA, which zookeepers gave him as a substitute for his mother after he was abandoned shortly after birth in July.

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Moneycontrol•15-03-2026, 13:55

'Hang in there, Punch': Viral baby macaque adapts to troop at Japan zoo

•Punch, a 7-month-old baby macaque, is slowly integrating with his troop at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo after emotional videos went viral.
•Abandoned at birth, Punch was raised with an IKEA orangutan toy as a substitute mother, becoming an internet sensation.
•Keepers clarify that rough interactions seen in viral videos are normal macaque social behavior, not bullying.
•Zoo staff temporarily removed aggressive higher-ranking monkeys to ease tensions, helping Punch interact more peacefully.
•Despite progress, Punch still faces occasional rough play and uses his toy for comfort, but zoo warns against separating him from his troop.

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