Punch the viral rejected baby monkey was finally shown love with an embracing hug from an adult macaque

For weeks, the digital world watched with bated breath as baby macaque Punch-kun struggled to find his place in his biological community. Abandoned by his mother, the young monkey’s only source of solace was a large orangutan plush toy provided by zoo keepers to aid muscle development and act as a mother. Their first entry into the monkey enclosure was met with hostility; other monkeys often ignored him or reacted violently to his clumsy attempts at communication, forcing the baby to retreat to his stuffed friend in a display that moved millions of viewers to tears.

Punch the Monkey: The Language of Unity

The social isolation Punch-kun faced was not random, but a result of complex primate dynamics. In an official statement released on February 20, 2026, the Ichikawa City Zoo detailed an incident in which Punch-kun was scolded and dragged by an adult female. After Punch-kun’s persistent attempts to play were perceived as a disturbance, the zoo explained that this was probably a mother protecting her own child. These “scoldings” provided harsh, if harsh, lessons in monkey etiquette that taught the baby the boundaries and hierarchies necessary to survive in a group environment.

Fist and Takbir Hug: A Breakthrough Caught on Camera

The tide finally turned when video emerged showing an adult monkey named Onsing reaching down to give the shivering baby a firm, protective hug. This was followed by footage of an adult monkey gently grooming Punch-kun, an act that serves as a vital social currency in the primate world. Grooming is used to build trust, reduce tension, and signal that the individual has been formally accepted into the group hierarchy. For Punch-kun, these actions represented a transition from being a viral “outsider” to a recognized member of the fraternity, sparking a wave of emotional responses from social media users who followed his journey.
Watch the Punch monkey hug video here:

As the path to full integration continues, the presence of adult guardians like Onsing promises a bright future for young macaques. The zoo continues to monitor his progress closely and says he is “gradually” adapting to the group. The transition from a synthetic plush toy to the warmth of real social bonds marks a critical developmental milestone for Punch-kun, ensuring that he will grow up with the social skills necessary to thrive in the complex environment of the Ichikawa City Zoo.

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