Abandoned baby macaque becomes star in Japan

At a zoo near Tokyo, the monkey enclosure has become a must-see attraction thanks to an unusual pair: Punch, a baby Japanese macaque, and his stuffed orangutan friend, Reuters reported.

Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth seven months ago at Ichikawa Zoo. A visitor noticed the situation and alerted the caretakers, who intervened quickly, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

Baby Japanese macaques usually cling to their mothers to strengthen their muscles and feel safe, so Punch needed immediate support, said zookeeper Kosuke Shikano. Caretakers experimented with different substitutes, including towel rolls and other stuffed animals, before settling on an orange plush orangutan sold by the Swedish furniture brand IKEA.

“It’s a stuffed toy with relatively long fur and easy to grip,” Shikano said. “We thought its resemblance to a monkey might help Punch integrate later among his peers, which is why we chose it.”

Punch is rarely seen without his plush toy, which he drags everywhere even though it is bigger than him, delighting fans who have flocked to the zoo after videos of the pair went viral.

“When I saw Punch on social media, abandoned by his parents but still fighting on, I was deeply moved,” said Miyu Igarashi, a 26-year-old nurse. “Today I met a friend and suggested we come together to see Punch.”

Shikano believes Punch’s mother may have abandoned him due to the extreme heat in July, when he was born.

Punch has had several conflicts with other monkeys, but caretakers say this is part of the learning process, and he is now gradually integrating with the group.

“I believe the day will come when he won’t need the stuffed animal anymore,” Shikano said.