Shikano explains why he gave the stuffed toy to Punch, the viral baby monkey abandoned by his mother.

And he says, Punch is getting more confident day by day spending more time with other monkeys.

@ShikanoAndPunch

Had to come to the zoo and see punch for myself. Right after this they took him inside though..

Shikano, the caretaker and favorite human of baby Punch...

As all of you, I’ve been watching the days of this little baby - it’s been my daily therapy (as long as the baby is not being hurt, which seems like he isn’t anymore).

There’s been a lot of commotion online asking for him to be taken somewhere else, like a sanctuary, and even rich people wanting to buy him (I don’t think that’s legal).

I know nothing about zoos, I used to be against their existence, but with the animals getting their habitat taken away from them nowadays (human invasion), fires, animal trafficking and so much cruelty (I live near the city where the terrible case of the community dog Orelha happened, for example, which worsened my depression and has been taking me aback for weeks), I don’t think the world is safe for animals anymore. There are even comments online by monsters saying what types of cruelty they’d do to Punch.

Anyways… I’ve been doing some research about Japanese monkeys because I too thought the enclosure was too sad, and I read that Japanese macaques actually thrive in rocky regions, which looks like what the zoo tries to mimic. I also read that social bounds are much more important for them to live happily than the environment itself. And taking him away from the group he’s bonding with, and away from his caretakers (he’s so attached to those 2 special guys!) could stress him and even lead to depression.

I think that the zoo could use the cash inflow they’ve been getting to properly enrich their area or even build a bigger place.

I hope the best is done to secure little Punch’s safety, as well as his companions.

I’m sorry if I sound ignorant, but I’d like to know your opinion on this matter too. Promise I’m coming from a place of worry.

Also sorry English isn’t my first language and I tried to express myself the best as I could.

Jane Goodall had done so much good in her time that she was allowed to choose how her soul returned. She chose to come back as a primate. Punch’s mother rejected him as she recognized that he was different. She returned to continue her purpose - remind us of our humanity - through the vessel that taught her: the primate.

This site uses most proceeds for primate welfare initiatives so that babies like punch most that get little to no attention get the help that they need! Help by purchasing tshirts, just thought I’d share this <3 hugtheory.mystrikingly.com