A seven-month-old macaque monkey named Punch, who was abandoned by his mother at Ichikawa Zoo in Japan, has begun making friends with other monkeys after initially seeking comfort from a stuffed orangutan toy, according to Swedish media reports. The baby monkey's story went viral on social media after images showed him clinging to the stuffed animal for comfort, garnering him a devoted following of fans worldwide who followed his struggle to be accepted by the troop. Zookeeper Shunpei Miyakoshihan told CNN that Punch now "hugs and plays" with other monkeys and is communicating with them, marking significant milestones in his social development.
While the adaptation to the troop may take time, the zoo reports that the young monkey is relying less on the stuffed toy as he builds relationships with his peers.
Punch now 'hugs and plays' with other monkeys and is communicating with them