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Abandoned Baby Macaque Gains Confidence with Zookeepers' Help

3/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Punch, a 7-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, was abandoned by his mother.
He found solace with zookeepers and a stuffed animal, aided by the #HangInTherePunch hashtag.
Born during a heat wave, he struggled to integrate after his January reintroduction.
Videos show adults rejecting him and him playing alone, but signs indicate growing confidence with peers.

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Story summary

Punch, a 7-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, was abandoned by his mother.
He found solace with zookeepers and a stuffed animal, aided by the #HangInTherePunch hashtag.
Born during a heat wave, he struggled to integrate after his January reintroduction.
Videos show adults rejecting him and him playing alone, but signs indicate growing confidence with peers.