If you’ve been scrolling through social media over the past few days, you’ve probably come across Punch-kun. He is a baby Japanese macaque who went viral after being abandoned by his mother and is now inseparable from a stuffed orangutan doll.
Born at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on July 26, 2025, this baby monkey began his life in a way that was both tragic and oddly absurd: rejected by his mother just moments after birth.
Yes, just hours old, he was left alone. He was not carried, not groomed, and did not receive the basic attention usually given by a mother in the first weeks of life. Tragic? Absolutely. But Punch-kun’s story does not end there.
According to zookeepers, including Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi, Punch-kun was abandoned because his mother was a first-time parent. Her maternal instincts had not yet emerged.
“This can happen with inexperienced monkey mothers. Maternal instincts may not be fully active at the time of birth,” a staff member explained.
Why Do Monkeys Abandon Their Babies?
This phenomenon is not limited to zoo observations. According to research by Carol M. Berman in a study titled Consistency in maternal behavior within families of free-ranging rhesus monkeys: An extension of the concept of maternal style, published in the American Journal of Primatology in 1990, first-time primate mothers sometimes fail to provide adequate early care for their infants. This means babies may be temporarily abandoned because the mother is not instinctively prepared, especially in the first weeks after birth.
The study explains that variations in maternal behavior are normal among primates. Infants who are temporarily abandoned face a high risk of stress, but many survive with substitute intervention—such as care from zoo staff. And that is exactly what happened to Punch-kun.
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A Doll: The Surrogate Mother That Saved His Life
What made Punch-kun’s story go viral is his doll. The baby monkey found comfort in a large stuffed orangutan, which he carries everywhere he goes. He sleeps with it, eats while hugging it, and walks around his enclosure clutching it—as if he has found the mother he never had.
Zoo staff explained that the doll is not just a toy. It serves as a source of emotional comfort, providing the sense of security that would normally come from a mother. Punch-kun’s popularity even prompted IKEA Japan to send additional stuffed dolls after the first one began to wear out from constant hugging.
Once photos and videos of Punch-kun with his doll spread across social media, the public response was overwhelming. Unlike typical viral content that sparks quick laughter or brief excitement, Punch-kun’s story evoked deep empathy.
Netizens from various countries left comments that remind us of one universal truth: the desire for connection is universal. Some wrote, “This is more touching than a Korean drama.” Others joked, “That doll is more attentive than my ex.” And some were simply moved: “I wish I had a doll like that to hug too.”
Lessons from Instinct and Loss
What can we learn from this baby monkey?
First, maternal instinct is not always automatically perfect. Some primate mothers—especially first-timers—may not immediately understand how to care for their infants. Carol Berman’s research shows that this phenomenon is fairly common and normal among primates: infants may be temporarily abandoned, but many survive with additional caregiving.
Second, attachment matters. Not only physical needs like food and sleep, but also the psychological need to feel safe.
And third, comfort can come from unexpected places. For Punch-kun, it came in the form of a large stuffed orangutan—a substitute for the mother he never had. In a life full of uncertainty, simple adaptations like this can be lifesaving.
Although Punch-kun has begun socializing with other monkeys in his enclosure, the doll remains his loyal companion whenever he feels anxious. His story has drawn many visitors to the zoo, eager to see the viral baby monkey—and perhaps a little envious of the affection he receives from his stuffed orangutan.
Punch-kun is more than just viral. He is a small mirror reflecting how life can be cruel, funny, heartbreaking, and full of surprises that make us smile and ache at the same time. (Sulung Prasetyo)
