A baby macaque named Punch became popular at a zoo near Tokyo after photos showed the small monkey dragging a large plush orangutan toy across the enclosure. The toy was given to the baby after the monkey’s mother rejected him shortly after birth. Zookeepers said the toy helped Punch find comfort during the difficult early weeks. The soft toy also helped train the young macaque to cling to objects, an important skill for newborn monkeys. Visitors became interested in Punch after images of the tiny monkey hugging the toy spread online and showed how the baby tried to cope with life without support from the mother.

Zookeepers now report that Punch is slowly becoming part of monkey society. Staff members recently saw the young macaque climbing onto adult monkeys and sitting near other animals in the group. Some monkeys have already accepted Punch by grooming or hugging him. The zoo says this progress is an important sign that the baby is learning normal behavior. Punch still sleeps with the toy at night, but the zoo hopes the monkey will soon sleep with other monkeys. Because Punch became very popular, the zoo introduced new visitor rules. Guests must stay quiet and can watch the monkeys for only ten minutes. The rules help reduce stress for the more than fifty monkeys living in the enclosure.