Punch's silent tears: Abandoned by mom, bullied by troop, saved only by a toy's gentle embrace

A tiny macaque named Punch is melting hearts and rewriting daily life at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo. Abandoned by his mother just months after birth, the baby monkey struggled to find comfort—until an unexpected companion changed everything. After rejecting towels and other soft substitutes, Punch bonded with a long-legged orange plush toy that now rarely leaves his side. How did one cheap toy become a lifeline, and why is the internet obsessed with this unlikely friendship? Watch Punch’s healing hug story.