Punch thrives after virality: Once-orphaned macaque turns 1

Punch, the orphaned baby Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, Tokyo, who conquered the hearts of millions while clinging to an orangutan plushie, has turned one. The monkey celebrated his first birthday on 26 June, and was flooded with messages from well-wishers and fans around the world. He is also making friends, and his enclosure is getting an upgrade, thanks to donations.Punch turns 1Punch, a Japanese macaque known for clinging to a stuffed orangutan, interacts with other monkeys at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Manami YamadaA year ago, Punch was a baby macaque abandoned by his mother, orphaned at an age when infants should be clinging to their mothers for survival. The tiny primate became inseparable from a stuffed orangutan toy. But by his first birthday this month, Punch’s life has transformed entirely. He is no longer the solitary figure hugging a plushie. He is now roughhousing with siblings, grooming other monkeys, and thriving in the chaos of his troop. Punch has even became a baby protector, guarding little ones from attacks.On Sunday, 26 July, Punch received some 2,500 birthday cards from inside and outside Japan, acc...