Chiba prefecture
—
The images of her being bullied by her pen mates, fleeing to safety, and clinging to a similar stuffed animal for comfort have captured hearts around the world.
But finally, Punch the Monkey is starting to fit in.
And zookeepers told CNN that the seemingly violent video that shocked Punch fans around the world was just part of the growth of the 7-month-old monkey at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo.
The tiny primate has found new friends and is now relying less on the stuffed orangutan he was given as a replacement for his mother, Shunpei Miyakoshi said during a recent CNN visit to the zoo.
“He’s now communicating with other monkeys and it’s great to see him reaching such milestones,” he said.
He said Punch is now cuddling and playing with other monkeys, a stark contrast to earlier heartbreaking online videos showing him being tackled and chased away by his own kind.
The zoo announced in a social media post that some of the more senior members of the troop, who had “displayed aggression more frequently,” were temporarily removed from the range earlier this month.
But zookeepers say even such behavior is considered normal in the Japanese macaque world, and his friends are trying to teach Punch about the hierarchy of their society.
“Japanese macaques, unlike humans, are not taught language, so they tend to be physical. If they are serious, they will bite more aggressively,” he said.
He also said the widely shared video of the rough encounter represented just a few minutes of Punch’s day.
However, there is still a long way to go towards full integration. When CNN recently visited the zoo, the baby monkey was spending most of its time alone.
Videos appearing on social media occasionally show hairy moments. In one clip, Punch is pinned to the ground by an older companion and desperately runs to a stuffed animal for moral support.
“He still uses it to calm himself down when he feels he needs to, like when he goes to sleep or when he gets a little depressed after being disciplined by an adult monkey,” Miyakoshi said.
“He has done his best to learn and grow from his early experiences.”
Visitors from all over the world, including K-pop star Blackpink’s Lisa, are flocking to the zoo to catch a glimpse of the internet star.
For some, Punch’s story strikes a personal chord.
Nasser Hashem, from the United States, planned a trip to Japan with his sister just to meet Punch.
Why everyone loves Punch the Monkey
CNN’s Hanako Montgomery visited Punch, the internet’s favorite stuffed monkey, and asked him, “How are you doing today?”
“I think we can all relate in some way to him being in an unfamiliar environment, not knowing the people around him, and just trying to fit in as much as possible,” he said.
Melanie Fortier, also from the United States, said she couldn’t pass up the “once in a lifetime” opportunity to see the baby monkeys.
As negative news fills social media feeds around the world, Punch gives her hope.
“When you see something like an animal coming up, it’s just hope and they have nothing but care and love to give. It’s refreshing sometimes and a breath of fresh air,” she said.
