Punch, who is six months old, was introduced to other monkeys, and it seemed he finally found a friend.
However, an incident soon occurred: an adult monkey attacked Punch while he was peacefully sitting and eating in the communal enclosure.
The macaque grabbed him and began dragging him along the ground. Fortunately, the little one managed to break free and immediately rushed to his only source of comfort – a plush orangutan that was given to him by the zoo staff instead of a mother. Holding the toy, he calmed down a bit.
Punch was born at the Itikawa Zoo in Japan. His mother rejected him shortly after giving birth, and the staff of the facility took care of him. The plush orangutan became a substitute for maternal care and a source of security for him. When Punch was transferred to the communal enclosure, he faced aggressive behavior from his peers, but over time, some of them began to show him care. Wildlife experts note that such behavior from mothers is not so rare: about 7-8% of Japanese macaques abandon their offspring. This usually happens with first-time mothers who lack experience or are under stress. Additionally, the risk of rejecting an offspring is higher among individuals lower in the hierarchy. The aggressive actions of peers towards Punch are likely related to the absence of a mother who could protect him.
