In July of 2025, a baby Japanese macaque was born named Panchi-kin, the English translation being “Punch”. He was unfortunately abandoned by his mother soon after he was born, but was quickly rescued by the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan and was raised through hand-rearing. Staff at the zoo noticed he was having difficulty making friends with the other macaques in his exhibit and needed socialization. Their idea? Give Punch a small, orange orangutan plushie.
The toy was soon given the name, “Ora-mama” because it became his constant companion and a surrogate mother for him. It’s seen in almost every video of Punch; him carrying, dragging, playing, or grooming the plushie that the zookeepers gave him.Â
Many people online were concerned about Punch not integrating with his troop very well. Since his troop would purposefully exclude him from bonding activities and would chase him away. A hashtag online began, “keep going, Punch”, to show the world’s ravenous support for the baby macaque and encouraging him to continue to try and make friends.Â
Punch’s first couple months of trying to join the troop didn’t go very well, his interactions with the older macaques have started to take a positive turn. There have been sightings from the staff and video evidence of the older macaques embracing him and grooming him. This is a huge improvement because grooming within social troops is more than just a hygienic factor. It shows trust, bonding and acceptance within the group. As well, the zoo has also been showing Punch now playing with the other younger macaques and playfully climbing on their backs. Thus displaying that he is slowly being accepted and is no longer completely alone.
Though there are still days when the troop is not completely comfortable with him and will keep physical distance from him. Even sometimes pushing him away, it’s seen that Punch is slowly but surely making progress with the other macaques in his troop, and that the Ichikawa City Zoo is doing everything it can to support him and give him a happy life. Keep going, Punch!