Punch the monkey As many of you know by now, Panchi-kun (in English "Punch") the baby Japanese macaque living in the Ichikawa City Zoo has made a big name for himself. Abandoned by his mother shortly after birth on July 26, 2025 and not accepted by his troop, Punch found it hard to socialize with the troop.  Zoo Keepers for Punch Photo Taken from Instagram feed When I found posts of this little primate on Instagram, I found myself captivated by his story and the images/videos the zoo keepers were posting. The stories melted my heart to see the little guy alone and abandoned. From what I've learned, Punch's mother was sick when she gave birth to Punch. She was unable to nurse him. So, a 24 year old zoo keeper named Kosuke Shikano worked alongside him during those crucial first months of his life. A senior zoo keeper, Shumpei Miyakoshi, supported Punch's early development and helped ease his transition into social life at the zoo. They realized that Punch needed something to hold and cuddle with which is a normal nurturing occurrence for baby macaques. Shikano said in an interview that they tried everything from rolled towels for him to grasp and other plushy stuffed toys, but nothing helped. He goes on to explain that this part of the baby monkey's growth of holding on to something is important for them to gain "muscle strength" and "for security." That's when they decided to purchase a plush orangutan from Ikea because the stuffed toy "had many places to hold and had long fur," Shikano said. Plus, he added, it "looks like a monkey." They thought that "if it looked like a monkey, it "might help Punch integrate back into the troop later on. That's why they chose it." Their decision to give him a plush orangutan to take the place of a mother's warm, loving, soft hug was brilliant. Over time, this stuffed toy became Punch's surrogate mother. Carrying and dragging his substitute security momma around as he sleeps on it, kisses it and hides behind it when he is frightened. To see him with his plush toy dragging it and sleeping on it is cuteness overload!! I was so touched by the story that I wanted to rescue and adopt the little macaque. But, I've learned a great deal about these Japanese macaques and Punch by doing some research on my own. First of all, Punch has become so popular that there's even a Wikipedia Page about him! Secondly, I've found out that macaques do not make good pets "because they are wild animals with complex needs that cannot be met in a home, leading to severe welfare issues, potential danger to humans (due to aggression and diseases like B-virus), and legal restrictions, with most experts and organizations advising against keeping primates as pets due to their inability to thrive outside their natural social and environmental settings. Macaques are highly intelligent, social, and need extensive space, specific diets, and constant mental stimulation that a typical home cannot provide." They're very affectionate as I've witnessed by watching the numerous social media posts about him. Therefore, even though I would want to save the little guy by adopting him for my own, I think he's better suited for an environment with other macaques for socialization and growth. "Crested Black Macaque's are the most affectionate monkeys in the world, due to living in a forest full of food where they all want for nothing. They love to hug, blow kisses, share, and make friends." Current posts and reports are now saying that Punch is beginning to assimilate with the troop members at the Ichikawa City Zoo and has an older macaque watching over him, grooming him and hugging him when he needs protection and love. I was so relieved to see this reported because I was worried about his welfare and survival. From one of the videos I watched I saw Punch hugging and kissing another monkey. It was touching and heartwarming to witness this. It has also been reported that Punch's mother is doing well and is among the other macaques at the zoo. Sadly, she has not interacted with Punch. But, not to worry, Punch has gained the love and affection of the other macaques. It's going to take time for Punch to feel fully assimilated with the troop members. When we have memories of being hurt and abandoned, gaining the trust of others takes time. I think the zoo keepers will do everything in their power to make Punch secure and assimilated with the troop. They're the experts and so far they've done a excellent job in caring for and loving Punch.  So... Why has this little baby monkey captivated me and so many people world wide?
Is it because we've all experienced being lonely and perhaps bullied in our lives? Or is it the feeling of empathy that the world needs now so desperately? I think it's both. "Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings, perspectives, and experiences of another person, acting as an "emotional bridge" that enhances relationships, communication, and social connection. Five examples of empathy include actively listening to understand someone's feelings, validating their emotions with phrases like "That sounds incredibly tough," offering support by saying "I'm here for you," taking their perspective ("I can see why you'd feel that way"), and sharing in their joy or sorrow, showing you feel with them, not just for them." Whatever it is, Punch has truly made his mark in the world. Through his birth and life I think the world has become smaller and kinder. More understanding for the need of others. I've learned many lessons personally from Punch.
 Watching Punch's journey with his troop fills me with gratitude and hope. He has shown me that despite the sadness in the world, there is still incredible kindness and loving connections. His story proves that compassion and hope are very much alive. I think that's why his story has captivated me so! I do hope that the Ichikawa City Zoo keeps us informed with Punch's growth and progress. I'll keep looking for the posts everyday about Punch from my little corner of the world.! It's uplifting and inspiring. I trust that the zoo keepers are aware of Punch's needs and I'm hopeful that they'll do what's best for him. Have a great month! Happy Tales to you xoxo Yvonne I painted the work of art below of the Bonobo Great Apes after I wrote a book about them in the early 2000's It was a labor of love! I've always had a love of monkeys. Did you know that the Bonobo Great Ape has 98% of our human DNA? Bonobo's are peaceful matriarchal apes living in the Congo. When they see the people that they know coming down the river, they come down from their tree umbrella homes and greet them with a hug!!  Bonobo Great Apes Original oil Painting by Yvonne Dagger Bibliography:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_(monkey)#:~:text=Punch%2Dkun%20(Japanese%3A%20%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3%E3%83%81%E3%81%8F%E3%82%93%2C%20Hepburn%3A%20Panchi%2Dkun%3B&text=or%20simply%20Punch%2C%20is%20a,a%20large%20orangutan%20stuffed%20toy. 2. empathy 3. Photos from Various Instagram Posts 4. macaques monkey 5. Instagram: travel_with_basil
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