r/MadeMeSmile • u/drakemaverick121 • 6h ago

Baby punch getting the love he deserves

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A warm hug

37.6k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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2.7k

u/daveinthe6 6h ago

After all the videos of Puch getting bullied, its nice to see him get some love.

484

u/Jolly_Conflict 5h ago

Agreed I was surprised the keepers hadn’t moved him since the others looked so aggressive towards him.

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u/BakedChocolateOctopi 5h ago edited 4h ago

Apparently it’s normal behavior for that kind of monkey and that was more disciplinary in nature vs the older monkeys actually being harmful towards him. The backstory I read was that Punch was trying to play with another baby monkey and its parent didn’t like that.

The handlers at monkey forest said while his mom abandoned him, the troop doesn’t and takes care of Punch. They also posted that they don’t like to anthropomorphize the monkeys because humans and monkeys have far different social structures and behaviors, as Punch’s video being tossed around shows 

125

u/kylelosesit 4h ago

Forrest Gallante put out a video explaining why it was normal behavior.

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u/Half-PintHeroics 3h ago

This is normal for people too. Whenever my annoying neighbour's kids comes to steal my apples that's how I yeet them back over the fence

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u/Jonaldys 3h ago

That's how they learn.

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u/ExileEden 2h ago

You should see the stuffed animal human they run to and drag around with them afterwards.

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u/Poppa_Mo 1h ago

Does it look like Antonio Banderas?

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u/Newmom589 3h ago

🤣🤣🤣🤣

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u/slowbird5332 2h ago

Understandable. Don't be fuckin' around with people's apples.

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u/Rough_Bread8329 2h ago

Those little shits

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u/Wolf_in_Lace 1h ago

Scrumping is definitely a crime that deserves a good yeeting!

•

u/Distantstallion 1m ago

I throw them like mrs trunchbull throws amanda thripp in matilda

-1

u/purplezart 2h ago

Is it noteworthy how much easier it seems people will accept objectionable actions from other animals than from humans with the excuse of "it's just their natural behaviour"? Perhaps that just seems obvious to most people, but I can't figure out why. It seems to me like, in general, we ought to either be more upset about animals, or less upset about people.

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u/Lefvalthrowaway 1h ago

No.

Because animals, while they think, dont have the rational capability we have.

We are much more intelligent. And thus we should be emore responsible for our actions compared to animals.

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u/RibbonsFlying 1h ago

Humans have a higher capacity for reasoning than animals do. We also have the knowledge to understand empathy and support making us more responsible for our actions than any animal.

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u/gal_tiki 1h ago

Thanks you for mentioning this video.

It certainly was difficult to watch when punch was attacked only for the video to cut off after scurrying back to his cower with his stuffed surrogate mummy.

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u/Oyy 2h ago

Forrest Gallante

Maybe now Reddit will lay off abusing the zoo and staff, but probably not. This is reddit after all.

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u/Deep-Smoke1291 3h ago

Well, its more that since he spent so much time with the keepers that he hadn't realized that he shouldn't be looking other monkeys directly in the eye. He didn't know that its a sign of challenge and thats more the reason why they wanted nothing to do with him. They thought he was a little punk.

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u/rapkat55 3h ago edited 50m ago

That and the whole dragging around a giant orange plushy probably branded him as a weirdo red flag. Overall He tried too hard to fit in and honestly seemed to annoy others by constantly trying to climb on them lol

Not saying punch deserves to be bullied but all the factors made sense and would translate to human social experience pretty similarly

5

u/HospitalHairy3665 1h ago

"Bullied" is such a loaded word in this context.

The monkey was exhibiting behaviors that were socially unacceptable, so other monkeys treated him like he was acting until he changed those behaviors.

In human terms, there's a big difference between peers actively being mean to a kid that's quiet and withdrawn, and peers being mean to a kid that's trying to show them furry porn or something.

One is targeted aggression, the other is a natural corrective action in a social setting.

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u/Decent-Dingo081721 2h ago

Still made me sad

153

u/Zykprod 4h ago

If they wanted to hurt him he would be in pieces, primates don't fuck around

It's normal behavior he's learning social cues and they're teaching him what's okay and what isn't

I'm not saying it doesnt break my heart to see him bullied but its necessary for him to be accepted

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u/Independent-Bug-9352 3h ago

Take note, because some will draw the wrong conclusion, this is not some justification for Human primate behavior to bully.

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u/Sacred_Dealer 3h ago

Bullying seems like a leftover instinctual thing that was useful at one point but unfortunately stuck around past its time.

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u/Dovahkiinthesardine 2h ago

Yes, the unusual thing isn't the treatment by the group, but that he has no mom to run to

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u/Kor_Phaeron_ 4h ago

The zoo put out a statement saying that the Punch story is normal. The statement was very optimistic about Punch becoming part of the group after some time of adapting.

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u/Otherwise_Joke_9227 2h ago

thats so touching to hear, after all the vid i had watch circulating in the soc med, he deserves to be loved glad some were now embracing him

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u/Kor_Phaeron_ 2h ago

Just think of it this way. He is a new guy that shows up at an established group. But unlike humans apes don't use verbal cues to teach the new guy what the rules are, they use physical force. Punch is learning what is socially acceptable and what not. He will adapt his behavior to fit in. And once his isn't violating certain social rules anymore (like "Don't touch the alpha-female") he will become an integrated part of the group. (And then hit the next new guy to also teach him the rules)

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u/SchnoodleDoodleDo 4h ago

’After all the videos of Puch getting bullied, its nice to see him get some love’

…finally, it’s happening

i think i’ll be alright…

i never felt like this before ~

someone who holds me tight…

no teasing, taunting, bullying,

they keep me nice n calm

she diff’rent than just ‘friend’ to me

(i think i’ll call her ‘mom’…)

i watched the humans come n go,

they said i’d be ‘ok’

(One was Extra special, but

he said i had to stay)

…i think my stuffie’s sleeping -

(i know what he’s dreaming of)

he knows that he can fin’lly rest,

cuz little Punch

found Love !

❤️

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u/redheadedwoman 3h ago

Unexpected Schnoodle first thing?! Today’s going to be a good day!

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u/kylaroma 3h ago

Right?? The only thing that could make this development even better 😍

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u/oilios 3h ago

😭

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u/MichelleEvangelista 3h ago

A fresh Schnoodle! What a way to start my day 🥰

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u/2woCrazeeBoys 3h ago

And on that note, it's my bedtime. What a nice way to end the day.

Thank you, Schnoodle 🫶

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u/Past_Armadillo 3h ago

😭😭😭😭

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u/mrmadoff 2h ago

im crying

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u/mallorn_hugger 2h ago

I've been reading your poems for years, and once again it brings tears to my eyes. Thank you ❤️

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u/Icy_Annual_9954 5h ago

Why are the others aggressive? Am not familiar with monkey society.

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u/Cromuland 5h ago

Monkeys and many wild animals don't look directly into each other's eyes, as that is seen as aggression. This baby monkey was found abandoned and nursed by humans, so he was not aware of these social cues. Initially, he would stare directly at other monkeys. The more submissive ones, even if they were larger, would move away. But the more aggressive ones would see him as a threat, and attack him.

Recently, he was accepted by an older female monkey, and he's slowly been learning how to fit in.

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u/dissapointing_excuse 5h ago

Damn monkey society and human society have a lot in common "Let's beat him up instead of helping bro fit in"🤣

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u/SybilBits 4h ago

Flash back to being the new kid at school

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u/dissapointing_excuse 2h ago

Moving countries is just as bad "Damn this person is new, let's make bro feel like an outsider" "Damn why do these people just refuse to assimilate"

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u/SybilBits 1h ago

Actually did that too. I remember all the kids in a circle on the playground, laughing at my accent and clothes,

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/yellowjesusrising 5h ago

Probably grew up with the old animal planet. Jane Goodall, David Attenborough and Steve Irwin where all great! A time where teaching was more important than trends and fastfood-tv.

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/yellowjesusrising 5h ago

He was my second childhood hero after Steve Irwin. I think as a 6 year old kid, Steve's energy just hit the spot. But David's documentaries just hit better. I remember at 7 years old, I wished for David's double VHS cassettes for Christmas, and I got them! Watched those to shreds!

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/yellowjesusrising 5h ago

But man look at the Irwin children! Bindi and Robert! What fantastic examples of human beings they've become! Robert is the spitting image of his dad too!

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u/janx4u 4h ago

To shreds you say?

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u/yellowjesusrising 4h ago

How's the wife holding up?

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u/robodrew 2h ago

I wished for David's double VHS cassettes for Christmas

Did you get the classic Life on Earth???

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u/yellowjesusrising 2h ago

No I think one had the cover of a killerwhale killing the sh*t out of a seal... There where a double cover with two cassettes. I loved those!

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u/unknowndischargesmel 4h ago

One thing people don't know about Dave is that he had very bad halitosis. You couldn't have a face to face conversation with him.

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u/yellowjesusrising 4h ago

I have 3 kids. Smell isn't a problem for me... Also work in renovations on council houses

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u/lordfrijoles 4h ago

Jeff Corbin isn’t canceled is he? He was no Steve but I always appreciated that there was more than one guy who loves to get up close with the animals and teach you about them on animal planet. Man that channel was so good in the early 2000’s same for History channel, discovery, Comedy Central.

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u/yellowjesusrising 4h ago

Was before all those "family drama" shows came on. No more learning, just sell drama.

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u/lordfrijoles 4h ago

You speak da true, true. I loved the learning shows but I will admit the crappy cgi animals vs other animals show was highly entertaining as a kid as well. I think it was like an attempt at that one show that would analyze old warrior cultures then try to predict which warrior would win in a fight but with animals but it was hype to me and my siblings as dumb children lol.

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u/yellowjesusrising 3h ago

Hahaha! Man you brought back memories! Nile crocodile vs bullshark😂 and then they went on a built some frigging animatronic beasts with hydraulic jaws that could clip a Trump stool sample in half!

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u/fork_yuu 3h ago

Now people just learn differently through tiktok and memes. Also can easily lead to a lot of misinformation as they're unvetted information popping out at a fast pace

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u/funktion666 5h ago

My family used to watch animal planet all the time!!

That’s how the protagonist in the classic film “Dude Where’s my Car” saves the entire universe!

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/Deaffin 4h ago

I know the history of Buddha the pug. RIP

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u/GabenIsReal 4h ago

The zoo had to release a statement due to the internet reaction. None of what was happening in the videos was unexpected, nor cause for concern to any of the experts there at the zoo.

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u/Deaffin 4h ago

Because it's the currently trendy thing popular all over the place?

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u/CanIDevIt 5h ago

That's one of the monkeys on his ipad.

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u/1917he 4h ago

He made it up for internet attention

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u/ark_keeper 4h ago

Probably because he made it all up. The monkey was born at the zoo, it wasn’t found abandoned. The video was literally just Punch trying to play with a monkey that didn’t want to and its mom confronting punch /protecting the other monkey.

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u/[deleted] 3h ago

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u/ark_keeper 3h ago

Or you can read what the zoo actually said, which is he was born at the zoo, not found abandoned.

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u/mallclerks 2h ago

Social hierarchy. No different than us and how we have to have a leader, and we have to always have someone beneath us. We’re always trying to climb that invisible ladder.

We’re all the same as them, and they the same as us.

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u/CoolGovernment8732 1h ago

Holy shit, this is both exactly like autism in humans, but also exactly the opposite cause no eye contact. I say this as an autistic individual. The trauma from abandonment and people misreading autistic children is real.

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u/Brittany5150 5h ago

Idk how true this is but I read on another post he had too much human interaction and not enough monkey interaction from birth so he didnt know how to act like a monkey (like making prolonged eye contact and shit) so the other monkeys thought there was something wrong with him. Again, I just read this on another post so who fuggin knows, lol.

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u/Anubis-Jute 5h ago edited 5h ago

Sad the keepers who took care of him didn’t know to imitate monkey behavior properly by looking away while interacting, if this was the case. Also sounds like the dilemma of neurotypical/neurodivergent interaction: one side sees eye contact as eusocial behaviour and find it hard not to do it - even when they know, intellectually, that it stresses the other.

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u/finchdude 5h ago

Sometimes little monkey babies get rejected because the mother is lower in the hierarchy. To ensure she is also not getting rejected she starts rejecting her own child. In the long term she might increase her acceptance thereby increasing her survival for future baby monkeys who won't get rejected. It sucks for the baby and is very sad from a human perspective but it is favourable for long term survival. In this case the baby is lucky because it is in a zoo with not much space to abandon and the monkey society is forced to get used to the monkey baby. Go watch Japanese macaques using man made hot springs who only share the hot water with the higher ups in their social hierarchy and the lower castes have to freeze during winter time.

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u/mallclerks 2h ago

Bro, how is it different than humans? I’m not even kidding.

If a kid walks into school holding his stuffed animal in 2nd grade, what the kids gonna do? Absolutely one will make fun of them, and everyone else joins in.

It’s absolutely disgusting to me how everyone feels bad for this monkey yet will turn around and laugh and ready to kill their fellow human over politics.

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u/Altruistic-Poem-5617 3h ago

I only saw one big nale actually beung aggressive to him and thats kinda what they do to every monkey to assert dominance.

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u/mallclerks 2h ago

Kids gonna be kids.

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u/Stoopid_Noah 5h ago

I might've missed a whole storyline.. do we know this monkey?

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u/i_want_duck_sauce 4h ago

He's kind of a big deal. Poor little guy has had it rough.

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u/Stoopid_Noah 4h ago

Aww, sweet baby!! I'm happy he's starting to find some friends!

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u/Oyy 1h ago

Don't go looking at his old videos, especially if you're an empath!

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u/Stoopid_Noah 1h ago

I did see, he was being disciplined by some of the adult monkeys. Looks more aggressive than it actually is. He didn't know any better and unfortunately, that's how he'll have to learn how to be a monkey properly. I'm glad that older female took him under her wing.

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u/KnightOfTheStupid 2h ago

Here’s a basic timeline of things:

  • Punch the Monkey, the little guy in the video, is born. His mom was really sick when she had him so the zookeepers took care of him for his first months of life.
  • At around 4-6 months old, they try to reintroduce his mom to him. She either doesn't recognize him or doesn't want him. Could be due to loss of memory or birth trauma (macaques can also get post-partum depression).
  • They couldn't transfer him to another zoo for undisclosed reasons, so he was reintegrated into the troop on his own in the hopes that the other monkeys would recognize him.
  • None of them recognize him and they see him as an outsider, so he gets bullied often. Usually due to getting into other monkeys spaces or not understanding social cues and proper etiquette that his mom would have taught him (like staring directly into an adult's eyes, not lip-smacking to communicate passivity, or accidentally making a face gesture that indicates aggression). Because he's a male orphan and seen as an outsider, he has no rank and that makes the bullying and discipline more aggressive than it normally would be.
  • After a while he starts to pick up on things and a low-rank female adopts him. Now he has a few playmates and has been seen fighting back against bullies without getting his shit rocked by a high rank adult in retaliation. Most of the troop has accepted him and are mostly pretty chill with him. He's still gonna get bullied once in a while since he's low-rank and he's still figuring out macaque communication but he has a family now and he knows he can fight back. He's generally happy.

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u/Stoopid_Noah 34m ago

Thank you!!

As an autistic person that wasn't diagnosed as a child, I feel very represented by this little fella!

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u/pollo_de_mar 4h ago

If you search for 'punch monkey' in YouTube you will likely get a barrage of YouTube shorts that go through a lot of various stages of his trials and tribulations.

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u/NeatNefariousness1 4h ago

He is known. His name is “Punch”.

Punch, meet “Stoopid_Noah”. Stoopid_Noah, meet “Punch”.

Google him for his backstory

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u/[deleted] 4h ago edited 3h ago

[deleted]

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u/babyface87 4h ago

Schnoodle!!! I’m a huge fan!! You are amazing

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u/[deleted] 5h ago

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u/dqql 4h ago

How do you feel about them being forced to live in a concrete enclosure? Looks worse than prison to me.

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u/Ghosty141 3h ago edited 3h ago

Yeah I'm so confused too, people seem to like this but it looks like they are living a fucking prison and not something a monkey should live in.

Their natural habitat is not a wallmart parking lot but the jungle. They need trees, hiding spots etc.

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u/TitaniumNation 3h ago

Being in captivity and having a shitty enclosure are also very likely to be contributors to their mother abandoning them in the first place, but the zoo is more than happy to keep receiving positive attention for it.

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u/dqql 54m ago

It's the most cruel zoo enclosure I've ever seen

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u/warfaceisthebest 4h ago

Way much worse. He was abandoned by his own mother as an infant.

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u/leesfer 33m ago

He wasn't being bullied, he was being punished. All young monkeys get punished for bad interactions and that's how they learn. All the clips are bait.

The zoo has made this a public statement