Why the Baby Monkey Named ‘Punch’ Was Rejected by His Mother — Experts Explain the Importance of the Stuffed Toy
A video of Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque, has gone viral on global social media. Punch forms a special bond with a soft toy after getting rejected by his mother.
Punch, a newborn monkey abandoned shortly after birth, receives round-the-clock care from zoo caregivers.
A heartbreaking case involving a newborn monkey named ‘Punch’ has drawn the attention of the wildlife caregivers. It shows that the infant was abandoned by his mother just after birth. Animal behaviour experts explain that such incidents, while emotional for humans to watch, are not rare in the wild. A mother sometimes abandons their newborn when a mother senses pain or weakness.
According to caretakers in the Zoo, Punch was rejected within hours of birth. The condition leaves him helpless and incapable of surviving on his own. The newborn primates are mainly based on constant physical contact with their mothers for feeding, warmth, and emotional security. Maternal rejection in animals causes the infants to suffer from stress, and developmental obstacles.
Rescuers stepped in right away, giving round-the-clock care that added bottle feeding and temperature rule. However, caregivers soon checked signs of anxiety and impatience in the young monkey — behaviour professionally says is distinguishing when maternal contact is missing. To answer this, the team introduced a soft stuffed orangutan toy to copy the ease of a mother’s body.
After receiving the toy, Punch has started showing positive changes, including improved feeding habits and longer periods of relaxation. Caregivers say the aim now is to ensure healthy growth while gradually encouraging natural behaviours that may allow future social integration with other monkeys.
Now, the demand for the plush toy carried by the punch rises, and the stuffed Orangutan is listed for Rs 29,000 on eBay. The President and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Japan also visited the zoo to contribute many replacements of the orangutan soft toy for Punch. Plush toy resale surge is high in the market.
