Unexpected Punch the monkey update given after visitor catches heartwarming moment
Topics: TikTok, Social Media, Instagram, Animals
Madison Burgess
Featured Image Credit: JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: TikTok, Social Media, Instagram, Animals
An unexpected positive update has been issued on Punch, the baby monkey, after the internet has been stressing over his well-being.
For those who are unfamiliar, Punch is a seven-month-old Japanese macaque who lives in the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan - specifically, the monkey mountain enclosure.
In recent weeks, the cute creature has become somewhat of a household name, as people around the world have fallen in love with him and his stuffed orangutan that he carries everywhere.
Punch was born last July, but tragically was abandoned by his mother at birth and so had to be hand-reared by zookeepers until he was old enough to join the troop in the zoo's monkey enclosure last month.
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Primate experts and Punch's keepers have theorised that his mum likely rejected him due to the extreme stress she faced during his birth, as it was in the middle of a heatwave.
Videos of the baby macaque trying to integrate with his new troop have tugged on the heartstrings of seemingly everyone, especially the harder-to-watch clips of him being 'bullied' by his fellow primates.
Take a look for yourself here. Some viewers may find the clip distressing:
Despite zookeepers and experts insisting that all is well, it's simply 'regular social interaction,' and 'no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him,' people are still fiercely protective.
One influencer actually went as far as flying all the way from America to Japan to get a glimpse of baby Punch and make sure he's okay.
Specifically, he held up a sign saying, "We love you Punch," despite monkeys not being able to read, but that's besides the point.
TikToker Chris Olsen, 28, shared a video and photos of his trip, including some exclusive content and footage of Punch - and it's left a lot of people feeling reassured.
He shared heartwarming photos and videos of Punch being hugged by other members of his monkey troop, who've seemingly welcomed him with open arms.
In one video, he was even seen hopping onto another monkey's back, which is a far cry from the 'bullying' videos that have been doing the rounds online.
Chris wrote in his Instagram caption: "Yeah im crying cause I flew to Tokyo to tell a monkey who’s being bullied that he’s loved and then I saw him get a hug, why wouldn’t I be crying??"
Anyway, fans were over the moon with this update and are thrilled that Punch seems to be integrating with his new troop.
One social media user commented: "You did what ALL of us wanted to do. You’re so real for that bc WE LOVE U PUNCH!!!!"
While a second penned: "Is… this real bc if yes this might be the greatest thing I’ve ever seen."
A third wrote: "Thank you for the update! My heart can rest easy tonight knowing that sweet boy got a hug today!"
And a fourth and fifth chimed in with: "Stop it!!! I’m crying" and "He’s getting so big".
According to The Times, Shumpei Miyakoshi, 34, one of the zookeepers raising Punch, told local media: "He’s actively engaging with other monkeys, and I can feel he’s growing up."
We're not crying, you are.