Punch the monkey at the Ichikawa City Zoo has touched millions worldwide. The monkey, who’s been rejected by his pack in the enclosure, has turned to a stuffed animal for comfort. Now, scientists reveal the tragic fate he can suffer as he’s not accepted by his pack.
The heartbreaking videos of Punch the monkey, a baby macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, who was rejected by his pack and found comfort in a stuffed orangutan, have spread worldwide.
The sad video of him being pushed away from his mother and even “bullied” or cast aside by others has been hard to watch. Meanwhile, however, zoo personnel have explained that it’s normal and part of the process. But it’s still challenging not feel bad for the little monkey.
As of late, it appears that Punch is heading for a better social life. The money was seen comforted and groomed by another macaque, but sadly, it was a short-lived relationship.
So what will happen if little Punch continues to be pushed away by his mother and bullied by the other macaques? Speaking with The Daily Mail, Dr. Emily Bethell, Associate Professor in Primate Cognition and Welfare at Liverpool John Moores University, explained what Punch’s fate is like.
Punch the monkey
She explained that Punch is likely under “careful observation” to determine how they will proceed.
“I expect Punch will be under careful observation by the keepers, and it sounds like they are trying various approaches to find a way to keep Punch in the group, which is best practice,” Dr Bethell told The Daily Mail.
“If it looks like he is at risk of physical harm he would be removed from the group. As macaques are highly social intelligent primates this would be the last resort, only if he were deemed to be at risk of physical harm.”
The scientist continued by explaining that a violent attack by theother monkeys might not be the worst-case scenario. Instead, it would be how he’s affected by long-term isolation from the pack, which could lead to a devastating fate. That way, he would miss opportunities to learn the proper social behavior.
“Having been abandoned by his mother and the social group more broadly he has missed key developmental opportunities to learn appropriate social behaviors that would help him to navigate the hierarchical social world of macaques,” Dr Bethell continued.
“At 6 months old a wild macaque would still be somewhat reliant on the mother for comfort, nutrition and opportunities to learn about social behavior.”
Punch the monkey could be moved to “forge new social relationships”
Still, although the cute little monkey might be on his own, there is one thing that is in his favor. As he is a male, he might be able to join a different group as he gets older.
“Japanese macaques are female–bonded and males typically migrate out of the social group at sexual maturity,” Dr. Emily Bethell told the news outlet.
She added, “There is evidence that mothers may invest more in raising daughters since they will stay in the natal group. He may therefore be moved to a new social group when he gets older and have an opportunity to forge new social relationships.”
We hope that Punch will find friends and a loving family soon. Please share this article if you think he deserves it too.
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