If you’ve been anywhere near the internet over the past few days, chances are, you’ve already come across the very tragic and very viral story of Punch the monkey. You’ve probably already seen the baby monkey’s mournful eyes as he drags his dirty stuffed monkey, his only friend, across the concrete. Or perhaps you’ve come across videos of sweet little Punch sitting alone, eyes wide, head tilted pitifully to one side, as the other, bigger monkeys taunt him from afar.
An adorable little macaque born in Ichikawa Zoo in Japan last July, Punch was abandoned at birth by his mother and rejected by the other adult monkeys. Soon, Punch had found his one and only friend in the form of a stuffed orangutan – he sleeps with it, eats with it, plays with it and painstakingly drags it all over his enclosure. It is, honestly, heartbreaking to watch.
Needless to say, we are all obsessed. TikTok is overflowing with videos of poor little Punch. Everyone from the BBC to the Guardian to the Independent has covered his story. Apparently, Punch’s fans have begun to flock to Japan to visit Punch in person. In fact, the zoo has even had to introduce stricter security.
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Why was Punch the monkey abandoned?
So, why was Punch rejected by his mother?
Although this type of rejection is rare, it can happen.
“In Punch’s case, their mother was a first-time mother, indicating inexperience,” said Alison Behie, a primatology expert at Australian National University to The Guardian.
“Zookeepers also suggest Punch was born during a heatwave, which would be a high-stress environment. In environments where survival is threatened from outside stress, mothers may prioritise their own health and future reproduction rather than continue to care for an infant whose health may be compromised by those environmental conditions.”
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Why does Punch have a stuffed animal?
It’s not just to make us all feel like weeping. Punch’s stuffed friend is actually intended to help him develop social skills he’ll need as he grows up.