‘Consequence of missing a mother’: wild animal expert explains behavior of baby Punch and the monkeys that rejected him

Monkey goes viral after hugging stuffed animals after being rejected by his mother Videos of a baby Japanese macaque named Punch, who lives at the Ichikawa Zoo, in Japan, went viral on social media and caused commotion and outrage. In the images, the animal appears circulating around the enclosure clinging to an orange stuffed orangutan, after being rejected by its own mother and the other monkeys. According to the veterinarian specializing in wild animals, Sinara Matos, both Punch’s behavior with the toy and that of the other monkeys who reject him is a consequence of the lack of maternal contact and the social difficulties of a cub who did not have his mother to mediate his relationship with the group. One of the most recent records shows Punch trying to interact with another puppy in the group. He is avoided and then dragged by an adult monkey — which, according to the zoo, is probably the mother of the other baby and would have reacted to protect her own baby. Punch adopted a stuffed monkey after being rejected by the Ichikawa Zoo group. After the episode, Punch runs up to the toy and hugs it. The scene was interpreted by many users as a portrait of “abandonment” and loneliness. The veterinarian highlights that, among primates, the bond between mother and baby is extremely strong and essential in the first months of life. As these animals live in groups, the presentation of the newborn occurs through the mother. “Children learn social language, posture and hierarchy through their mother. Individuals without this learning have more difficulty social integration with the group. Without a mother figure to mediate, the group’s first behavior is usually rejection”, explains Sinara. Object to replace physical contact is a known practice Punch was abandoned at birth, seven months ago. According to a report by the Reuters agency, keepers needed to act quickly, since, in this species, the act of clinging to the mother is fundamental for both the safety and development of the Sinara explained that the use of objects as substitutes for physical contact is a known practice in wild animal medicine. Before offering the stuffed orangutan, zoo employees tested rolled towels and other toys. Despite the abandonment narrative having dominated the networks, Sinara. considers that the puppy does not have this human feeling. “He does not understand abandonment as a concept. What happens is a physiological consequence of maternal deprivation for development within the group”, he states. Among the possible effects are an increase in basal cortisol (stress-related hormone), difficulty in emotional regulation, greater dependence on tactile stimuli and delay in social development. The zoo itself reported that Punch has already had other disagreements with members of the group, but that this is part of the learning process and that he is gradually integrating. According to the statement, after being dragged in the most recent episode, the cub returned to interact with the other monkeys and behaved normally during feeding times. For the keepers, the expectation is that, over time, Punch will no longer depend on the toy.

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