04 March,2026 09:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish Kamble
Punch finds solace in his Orangutan soft toy. PIC COURTESY/ICHIKAWA ZOO ON INSTAGRAM
Ironically enough, February felt like the closest we'd ever get to world peace. Across borders, languages, and time zones, Internet users came together to virtually watch, smile, and shed a tear over Punch. In case you missed it, Punch is a seven-month-old macaque at Japan's Ichikawa Zoo who was abandoned by his mother in July 2025. Clips of the tiny primate being bullied, and rushing to his soft toy Ora Mama for comfort, sent people into a full-blown emotional spiral.
For wildlife rescuer Pawan Sharma, founder of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW), Punch's story isn't new. Closer to home in Mumbai, Baby Bheem, an infant macaque is currently undergoing rehabilitation under RAWW. Much like the viral snow monkey, a soft toy stayed by his side. "It is not uncommon for a mother to abandon its offspring in the wild. She may sense a birth defect, become overwhelmed as a first-time mother, or the separation may happen due to her death. One must realise that it's a part of nature's course," Sharma reminds those overwhelmed by Punch's situation.
Baby Bheem with his plushie. PIC COURTESY/RAWW
"If I see one more video of Punch being bullied, I'm going to take a flight to Japan and bring him home," a user had declared in a viral Instagram reel. Should you, really? "It would probably make things worse for Punch. Social animals like monkeys can develop fully only through interactions with their own kind. Attachment or reliance on a human being can hamper their quality of life and social skills. It can also lead to further isolation. The caretakers are practising restraint for a reason," he reveals.
Pawan Sharma
Last week, home décor giant IKEA announced that its orangutan plush had sold out across multiple countries. Pet parents are perhaps hoping to recreate their own Punch moment at home. Sharma suggests choosing toys shaped like smaller animals or opting for cognitive, puzzle-style toys that keep pets distracted from stressors, while keeping them from slipping into a slump, or an unhealthy obsession. If your pet already has a comfort toy, or a plushie companion, ask yourself these questions to gauge if the attachment is healthy.
Does your pet get territorial around the toy and snap when someone touches it?
Do common routines like eating, bathing, walking require the toy to be in sight?
"While animals may look happy with toys, it is important to consult a veterinarian to understand the psychological needs of your pet, and if they are being met," Sharma adds. The expert leaves us with a firm reminder: Don't view Punch purely through a human lens. Conservation needs and emotional welfare are not the same thing. What may appear cruel to us, is at times, the decision that serves the animal best.
Dr Abhishek Satam, zoo biologist, reveals how the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Udyan and Zoo aka Mumbai Zoo keeps homesickness at bay for its residents
1 Leopards are given scratching poles that promote natural behaviour like territorial marking and claw maintenance
2 Deer enclosures are fitted with fire hose pipe feeders on trees that emulate foraging in the wild
3 Elevated hammocks help sloth bears keep their climbing, lounging, and exploration instincts sharp
