Punch the monkey is finally making friends and fitting in
Images of him being bullied by his fellow wards, retreating to safety and holding on to something plush-like It has won hearts around the world for its comfort.
But eventually Punch the monkey adapts.
And the zookeeper told CNN that the seemingly harsh videos that alarmed Punch’s global fan base were part of growing up for the seven-month-old macaque that lives there. JapanIchikawa City Zoo.
The diminutive primate has found new friends and is less reliant on the orangutan plush toy he was given instead of his mother, Shunpei Miyakoshi said during CNN’s recent visit to the zoo.
A juvenile Japanese macaque named Punch drags a stuffed orangutan at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa in Chiba, Japan, on February 19, 2026. -Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
“He’s now communicating with other monkeys and it’s great to see him reach these milestones,” she said.
He said Punch now cuddles and plays with other monkeys; This is in stark contrast to previous heartbreaking online clips that showed him being overpowered and chased by his own kind.
A social media post from the zoo said some senior members of the troop who were “exhibiting more frequent aggression” were temporarily removed from the enclosure earlier this month.
But even this behavior is considered normal in the Japanese macaque world, and his peers are trying to teach Punch the hierarchy of their society, the keeper said.
“Japanese macaques tend to be physical because, unlike humans, they don’t have any language taught to them… They would bite much more aggressively if they were serious,” he said.
A Japanese macaque cub named Punch clings to zookeeper Kosuke Shikano on February 19, 2026, at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. -Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
He also said the widely shared videos capturing grueling encounters accounted for only a few minutes of Punch’s day.
But the road to full integration is still long. During CNN’s recent visit to the zoo, the baby monkey was spending most of his time alone.
Hairy moments can be seen from time to time in the videos that appear on social media. In one clip, Punch wrestled an older peer to the ground, causing him to frantically run to his plushie for emotional support.
Punch, a Japanese macaque born on July 26, 2025, sits with others in the monkeys’ playground at the Ichikawa city zoo in Chiba, Japan, on March 3, 2026. -Hiro Komae/AP
“He still uses it when he feels it’s necessary – like when he’s going to sleep, or when he’s being disciplined by an adult monkey and he’s feeling a little bad – he goes there to calm himself down,” Miyakoshi said.
“He’s doing his best to grow, learn from those early experiences.”
Visitors from around the world, including K-pop star Lisa from Blackpink, flock to the zoo to catch a glimpse of the internet star.
Some say Punch’s story strikes a personal chord.
Nasser Hashem from the USA planned a trip to Japan with his sister just to see Punch.
“I think we can all relate to it, being in an unfamiliar environment, not knowing the people around us, and then trying to fit in as best we can,” he said.
Melanie Fortier, also from the USA, said she could not miss the opportunity to see the “once in a lifetime” baby monkey.
Punch gives him hope at a time when negative news from around the world is filling social media feeds.
“When you see something like an animal approaching — they have nothing but hope and their care and love to give — sometimes it’s refreshing and a breath of fresh air,” he said.
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