Latest update:26 February 2026 at 11:52 IST

In a video, Punch was seen following an older monkey around its enclosure at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.

Punch was abandoned by her mother. (Image source: X)

Punch-kun, the baby macaque who went viral for clinging to a stuffed orangutan after his mother abandoned him, has finally been accepted by his ape peers. In a video clip that captured the attention of social media, the seven-month-old was seen following his new friends and even imitating their actions.

In the clip, Punch follows an older monkey around its enclosure at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. When the older monkey stopped after a short walk, the young macaque also stopped, looking at his surroundings curiously. Once the older monkey resumed walking, Bunch was seen hopping behind him on his tiny legs, mirroring his every movement.

Punch learned how to take shelter during the rain from his friends

Moreover, the video, which was posted on social media by The Washington Post, showed how Punch learned from another monkey how to take cover during rain. Instead of wandering around in the rain, the seven-month-old curled up behind a rock-strewn area to watch what others were doing. And despite all his new ape friends, Punch is still very attached to his first friend ever, a stuffed orangutan.

The Internet reacts as other monkeys accept the punch

In response to the helpful clip, one user said: “From rejection to acceptance. This is a comeback.”

“OMG, so cute. Poor little baby,” someone else commented.

Another quipped: “I’d love to see them give him another chance!”

“Ah, the struggle to fit in – you must feel like you’re the only one at the bar without a drink! Just give it time, baby; every crew has a soft spot deep down somewhere,” another person shared.

What is the story of Punch?

Punch, a baby Japanese macaque born last July at the Ichikawa Zoo in Japan, unexpectedly became the center of global attention when videos showed him alone in an enclosure. The baby monkey was rejected by his mother shortly after his birth. Zookeepers then had to step in to raise the baby macaque, making sure it was fed and cared for during its crucial first weeks of life.

To provide comfort, the caregivers introduced the orangutan’s plush toy, said to be an IKEA soft toy, into his enclosure. Punch quickly became attached to him, hugged him tightly, carried him everywhere, and even slept with him. The game soon became his constant companion. Some clips also showed him being rejected by some of the older monkeys at the zoo, making Punch feel neglected once again. However, recent videos have reassured people that she has finally found friends of her own.

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