<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Punch, a lonely seven-month-old </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/animals" rel="" target="_blank" title="macaque monkey"><span>macaque monkey</span></a><span>, has struck a chord with millions of people worldwide. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was abandoned by his mother after his birth in July and was hand-raised by staff at the Ichikawa City Zoo in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/japan" rel="" target="_blank" title="Japan"><span>Japan</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Punch was introduced to the other macaques in January, but without a mother to show him the ropes, he has struggled to fit in with the troop.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/cost-of-living-how-queensland-couple-sandra-and-peter-rielly-keep-their-expenses-to-under-15-000-dollars-a-year/6952ee63-af6d-4f59-9cbf-63e79e78e8e0" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>How one Aussie couple lives on $15,000 a year</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lonely and seeking comfort, Punch has been seen clinging to an IKEA stuffed orangutan he was given. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Baby Japanese macaques immediately cling onto their mother's body after birth to build muscle strength; they also get a sense of security holding on to something," zookeeper Kosuke Shikano told the Guardian.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"However, because he had been abandoned, Punch had nothing."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/punch-the-monkey-ichikawa-city-zoo-why-the-entire-world-rooting-for-baby-macaque-explained/14edbe30-4f0a-48bd-ad79-a9e9331aa97e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-global-entry-suspended-what-does-this-mean-for-australians-explained/d0e2dbb7-f6bf-405c-a70c-9e454e91f8a1" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Major US closure could cause chaos for Aussie travellers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Viral videos of him being rejected by other monkeys and hugging his toy have made him the newest internet celebrity with millions of fans rooting for him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need to give Punch a gun," one user wrote. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"My mission in life now is to rescue Punch from the horrible monkeys he's with and make him my baby," another said.</span></div></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2023597925826236752" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2023494946129690996" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="tweet" data-tweet-id="2024990970891182243" data-user="9NewsAUS"></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The zoo has responded to one particularly heartbreaking video of Punch being dragged by an adult monkey, saying he was merely being scolded as he learns how to socialise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In order to integrate Punch into other Japanese monkey troops, we anticipated that this kind of challenge may arise," the zoo said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Although Punch has been scolded many times by other monkeys, no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While Punch is scolded, he shows resilience and mental strength." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-arrest-photo-of-ex-prince-leaving-uk-police-station-hung-in-louvre/e10fdc79-6ce8-4e68-b84e-36a813a0e7ab" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Infamous photo of ex-prince Andrew hung in Louvre</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Punch's plight has led to "unprecedented and unexpected" crowds and two-hour wait lines at the zoo.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>IKEA Australia has also confirmed it has sold out of the orangutan toy online that Punch loves so much. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But there now appear to be signs that Punch is making friends, as recent videos show him being held by another monkey, groomed by two others and sitting with adults.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The zoo yesterday said he is "steadily fitting into the group".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and 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