Punch the baby monkey turns 1, makes friends and gets a new enclosure
Punch, an orphaned Japanese macaque at Tokyo's Ichikawa City Zoo, recently celebrated his first birthday. After being abandoned as an infant, he has successfully integrated into a monkey troop and become a popular attraction.
Why it matters
Human-interest stories about animal welfare and rehabilitation often serve as a source of public inspiration and highlight the role of zoos in conservation.
Punch, the orphaned baby Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, Tokyo, who conquered the hearts of millions while clinging to an orangutan plushie, has turned one. The monkey celebrated his first birthday on 26 June, and was flooded with messages from well-wishers and fans around the world. He is also making friends, and his enclosure is getting an upgrade, thanks to donations.Punch turns 1A year ago, Punch was a baby macaque abandoned by his mother, orphaned at an age when infants should be clinging to their mothers for survival. The tiny primate became inseparable from a stuffed orangutan toy. But by his first birthday this month, Punch’s life has transformed entirely. He is no longer the solitary figure hugging a plushie. He is now roughhousing with siblings, grooming other monkeys, and thriving in the chaos of his troop.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in