Riley Lyons, Sophomore

Located in Chiba, Japan, the monkey who has captivated the world is living his life to the fullest. Only seven months old, Punch the monkey has seemingly taken over social media and the hearts of many. 

He has gained many views because of his unique attachment to a stuffed orangutan. And because of this, the zoo where he is located has gotten more visitors. 

In late 2025, he was left by his mom, who had no interest in taking care of him. Some zookeepers have suggested that since he was born in a heat wave, it created a high-stress environment, making the mom prioritize her own health. In early 2026, he went to live with 60 other monkeys. But because of his lack of a maternal figure, he struggled with socializing. 

Because of this, he wasn’t liked by most of the other monkeys in his environment. Many say that they can relate to this monkey and his unique story. The zoo in which he is located has had ten times the usual number of visitors. 

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals used Punch’s story to highlight the cruelty of animals in the wild. 

Sources:

Montgomery, Hanako, et al. “Punch the Monkey Is Finally Making Friends and Fitting in.” CNN, 14 Mar. 2026, http://www.cnn.com/2026/03/14/asia/japan-punch-monkey-makes-friends-intl-hnk. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

Roberts, Nadine. “Rejected Monkey Punch Has Finally Made Some Friends.” Stuff, 24 Mar. 2026, http://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/360954251/rejected-monkey-punch-has-finally-made-some-friends. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.