Punch the monkey captured the world’s attention when he became an internet sensation last month.

Residing at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, the orphaned macaque gained widespread attention on social media after being seen cuddling a plush toy monkey for comfort, following rejection from other macaques in his enclosure.

Visitors flocked to the zoo by the hundreds, eager to see the six-month-old star. Many cheered him on with shouts of “hang in there!” as he made attempts to interact with the other monkeys.

Despite Punch’s rise to fame, zoo officials have asked visitors to refrain from pitying him.

In an official statement, the zoo noted, “On February 20, 2026, we shared on our official X account (@ichikawa_zoo) that although Punch is often scolded by his peers, none have shown him serious aggression.”

“When you witness these disciplinary actions from the troop towards Punch as he tries to engage with them, we hope you’ll choose to support his efforts rather than feel sorry for him,” the statement continued.

The zoo added that Punch was not ‘being bullied’, after viral videos online claimed otherwise, insisting that the behaviour is part of a ‘strict hierarchical society’ where ‘dominant individuals show “disciplining actions” toward their subordinates’.

‘These behaviors differ from human “abuses”,’ the zoo said. 

Punch the monkey, who lives in Ichikawa City Zoo, near Tokyo, set social media ablaze after he appeared to seek comfort in a plush toy monkey after being rejected by other macaques in his enclosure

While they acknowledged that a ‘few high-ranking macaques’ have demonstrated aggression more frequently’ and they were removed from the troop on March 8 as ‘a temporary measure’, they claimed that there has been no evidence that Punch has been ‘attacked in a way that would threaten his survival’.

And although the zoo said it was ‘understandable’ that people had suggested Punch be removed from the group, to do so now ‘would create the risk that he would never be able to return to the group and would have to continue living that way for the rest of his life’.

The statement continued: ‘[The zoo] share your concerns about Punch, and all the zookeepers and staff will continue to work together to ensure that Punch can continue to live a healthy life as part of this troop of monkeys.’

Recent pictures showed that Punch appears to be finally integrating with other monkeys and using the toy less.

The baby macaque has recently been pictured hitching a ride on the back of another monkey, sitting with adults, and sometimes getting groomed or hugged by his peers.

He was abandoned by his mother after his birth, presumably because of exhaustion.

Zookeepers nursed him and gave him the toy to train him to cling – an ability newborn macaques need to survive.

He joined the monkey enclosure at the zoo early this year, with his companion toy provided by the zookeepers for comfort.

A statement from Ichikawa City Zoo, near Tokyo, about claims Punch is being bullied 

Fans of Punch the money outside a street mural to the baby macaque in Melbourne. Punch was briefly the most famous monkey in the world when he went viral last month

Zookeeper Kosuke Kano, 24, said: ‘Helping Punch learn the rules of monkey society and being accepted as a member is our most important task.’

Japanese baby macaques cling to their mothers to feel safe and to build up their muscles, according to zookeeper Kosuke Shikano.

The zoo looked for an alternative, such as a towel or a different soft toy, but Punch chose the long-legged teddy orangutan.

‘This stuffed animal has relatively long hair and several easy places to hold,’ Shikano said.

‘We thought that its resemblance to a monkey might help Punch integrate back into the troop later on, and that’s why we chose it.’

Punch was so popular after images of him and his toy showed up online last month that the zoo had to set rules to make visitors quiet and to limit viewing to ten minutes to reduce stress for the more than 50 other monkeys.

Punch outgrowing the toy is a good thing, zoo staff say.

‘When he grows out of the plush toy that encourages his independence, and that’s what we are hoping for,’ zoo director Shigekazu Mizushina said.

Punch still sleeps with his toy every night, but Mizushina said the next thing keepers want to see is Punch bunched up with other monkeys to sleep.