Many people were recently moved by a throwback video showing little Punch when he was only a few months old.

The clip was filmed in October 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo, long before Punch became known to the world. At the time, the tiny Japanese macaque was quietly introduced to young visitors in a small corner of the zoo.

Back then, almost no one knew his name.

Punch’s early life was different from most baby monkeys. After being rejected by his mother, he grew up without the comfort that young macaques normally rely on. Instead, his closest companion became a small stuffed toy that stayed beside him almost all the time.

For months, he lived quietly, cared for by keepers while slowly growing stronger.

Then, in January 2026, Punch was finally moved to stay with the other monkeys. Around that time, videos of the little macaque hugging his toy and exploring his surroundings began circulating online.

People around the world quickly fell in love with his gentle and emotional story.

What started as a quiet introduction at the zoo soon turned into a story followed by thousands of people across social media.

From a shy baby monkey sitting with his toy… to a tiny symbol of resilience and hope, Punch reminds us that even the smallest lives can leave a lasting mark on people’s hearts.