Why was the baby monkey, Punch, abandoned by his mother?

The reason for Punch's abandonment is not explicitly stated, but zoo keepers suggested the burden of his mother's first birth might have been a factor.

How did the orphaned monkey Punch find comfort?

Punch found comfort by clinging to a stuffed orangutan, using it as a surrogate parent for reassurance and carrying it around the enclosure.

What does grooming signify in primate communities for Punch?

In primate communities, grooming, like the grooming Punch received from another monkey, is a language of trust and acceptance.

Home / Lifestyle / Orphaned Monkey Finds New Family with Toy and Troop

Orphaned Monkey Finds New Family with Toy and Troop

18 Feb

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Summary

An abandoned baby monkey found comfort with a toy orangutan.
Zoo keepers worked to reintegrate the monkey with his troop.
The monkey has successfully bonded with another adult monkey.

Orphaned Monkey Finds New Family with Toy and Troop

A young Japanese macaque, seven-month-old Punch, experienced maternal rejection shortly after birth. Visitors at the Ichikawa City Zoo observed Punch finding comfort in a stuffed orangutan, treating it as a surrogate parent by clinging to it and sleeping with it.

Zoo keepers, Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi, acknowledged that parental abandonment can occur among monkeys. Despite initial challenges in reintroducing Punch to his troop due to his cautious adjustment to new social dynamics, the integration has now been successful.

Heartwarming updates from the zoo reveal Punch has bonded with another monkey. A video showed a larger monkey grooming Punch, a gesture recognized as a sign of trust and acceptance within primate communities. Keepers noted Punch is actively engaging with others and appears to be thriving.

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