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.

Punch next door

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.