A baby macaque abandoned by his mum has gone viral after forming a touching bond with a stuffed orangutan, which he now carries around with him for comfort
A baby monkey abandoned by his mum has captured hearts around the world after forming an adorable bond with an unlikely friend. Punch, a six-month-old macaque, was rejected shortly after birth and hand-raised by zookeepers.
The wildlife caretakers consequently offered Punch soft toys for comfort. As a result, the tiny primate quickly latched onto a stuffed orangutan.
Carrying it everywhere across his home in Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan, Punch’s plush toy quickly became a substitute parent. Heartwarming photographs show how he hardly ever lets it go.
Further footage of Punch cuddling and clinging to his toy has gone viral, sparking an outpouring of sympathy and affection from social media users touched by his story.
Born in July 2025 and rejected shortly after, Punch was taken in by dedicated animal carers, who bottle-fed him and kept a close eye on his progress. Staff provided Punch with blankets and soft toys as infant monkeys naturally cling to their mothers.
The items helped soothe Punch’s distress, and he quickly became inseparable from the stuffed orangutan, the Daily Mail reported. Adorable videos circulating on X (formerly known as Twitter) show Punch snuggling up to his plush friend at bedtime, wrapping his arms around it and burying his face in its fur.
In other clips, Punch clutches the toy tightly while approaching other young macaques. One social media user even noted that he uses it as a shield when the others “scold” him during play.
In January, animal handlers reportedly began carefully introducing Punch to a small group of fellow macaques. Although he’s started interacting with them, he still keeps his beloved toy close as he gets used to life in the troop.
The footage has prompted an outpouring of affection and empathy online. “It’s as if he’s found the safest, warmest place in the world,” one user wrote.
Another commented: “A baby monkey abandoned by his mother and raised by zookeepers is one of those stories that reminds you how much social bonds matter across all species.” Others simply posted: “Poor baby!
“I will cuddle you!!” Baby macaques have an innate biological need to cuddle, often referred to in scientific literature as “contact comfort”.
This need is as vital to their survival and development as food or water, according to research. This powerful instinct underpins much of their early behaviour and has been the subject of extensive scientific research.
One of the most famous studies on this topic was conducted by psychologist Harry Harlow in the 1950s. Harlow’s experiments showed that infant macaques prioritise touch over nourishment.
When given a choice between a “wire mother” that provided milk and a “soft cloth mother” that did not, the young monkeys spent far more time clinging to the cloth surrogate, only visiting the wire one briefly to feed before returning for comfort. This cuddling provides what researchers call a “secure base”.
When faced with something frightening or unfamiliar, baby macaques instinctively seek out their mother or a soft substitute for reassurance. Once calmed by this contact, they are more confident to explore their environment.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.