The “bullying” of a young monkey named Punch in Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo by fellow macaques has sparked concern among netizens. While the zoo authorities confirmed that the adults dragging and scolding Punch was typical disciplinary interaction during troop integration, some reports claimed that the young animal was bullied again after the initial episode.
Punch was dragged by a female monkey with whose baby he had a previous interaction. The mother reacted after Punch’s attempt to interact with the other baby monkey failed and he decided to sit nearby. It was not the first time he had experienced such a harsh lesson from the group, which is common among monkeys, they claimed. No single monkey has been targeting Punch, and such instances can help the orphaned baby to get accustomed to the rules of the group, they reiterated.
Punch became an internet sensation after the caretakers gave him a stuffed monkey for companionship, as he was new to the enclosure. He was abandoned by his mother at birth, and the stuffed toy—a plush orangutan—was expected to give him some solace until he could bond with other monkeys. After being scolded by the female monkey, Punch quickly ran back to the toy screaming, as if approaching his mother for comfort.
They also pointed out that while he goes back to his toy when scared, he is regularly trying to communicate with the troops and has no hesitation to leave the plushie behind in order to approach other monkeys.
The story of Punch the monkey being bullied
Punch was born on 26 July 2025. It is normal for first-time mother macaques to abandon their young, and Punch being a healthy infant meant the zoo stood a realistic chance of raising him. The major challenge was helping him get over the trauma of being motherless and teaching him to become social with other animals in the absence of a natural guide or family. Ichikawa City Zoo is being flocked by people who have become familiar with Punch’s story and his love for his lifeless friend.
If the zoo authorities are to be trusted, Punch should brace for more scolding and punishments as his journey with the troop progresses.
