At Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, a young Japanese macaque named Punch, born in 2025, faced immediate rejection from his mother shortly after delivery. The infant’s plight captured widespread attention online, as videos showed the tiny primate forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy provided by zoo staff. In place of maternal care, they introduced the plush toy, selected for its long hair and graspable features that mimic a real monkey. Shikano pointed to the intense July heat during the birth as a potential trigger, suggesting environmental stress played a role. Zookeepers remain optimistic, with Shikano expressing confidence that Punch will eventually outgrow his reliance on the toy and fully integrate into the troop.

Source: Punch February 22, 2026 16:22 UTC