An orphaned baby monkey whose attachment to a stuffed toy captured hearts around the world is slowly finding acceptance among his own kind — offering a hopeful update to a story that has drawn

Legions of fans from around the world have been cheering on Punch, a 7-month-old macaque who had been struggling to socialize at a zoo outside Tokyo.

Caregivers say Punch has begun interacting more regularly with the troop.

AN abandoned baby monkey has broken hearts after being seen snuggling up to a soft toy, using the stuffed animal as a stand-in parent. Six-month-old Punch, a baby macaque, was filmed clinging to

Punch the Monkey, a baby at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo, went viral after bonding with a plush toy. Here’s why the internet can’t stop talking about him.

Born in July 2025, Punch was rejected by his mother shortly after birth. To comfort the vulnerable infant, zookeepers introduced a plush orangutan toy that quickly became his emotional anchor. The baby macaque carried the toy everywhere, clutching it while sleeping, hugging it tightly, and even hiding behind it when startled.

Internet falls for baby monkey Punch who clung to a plush toy after his mother abandoned him - Videos showing the forlorn little macaque dragging around his orangutan plushy went viral and gained him

Baby monkey seen playing among friends and family An endangered monkey — a Sulawesi Crested Macaque monkey — gave birth to a newborn at the Chester Zoo in Cheshire, England. See the adorable baby interact with others!