‘Punch’ moment? Baby monkey Yuji goes viral after clinging to plush toy at Mexico zoo

The six-week-old patas monkey, Yuji, was born on March 3 at the Guadalajara Zoo in Jalisco, Mexico, where he is now being hand-raised by staff. His first-time mother was unable to care for him, according to reports by Dexerto.

Zoo staff have provided Yuji with a stuffed toy to mimic the comfort typically provided by a mother. The young monkey has since been seen hugging the plushie closely, a behaviour experts say is entirely natural.

“[Baby monkeys] cling, and at that age, all the security they have comes from their mother,” veterinarian Ivan Reynoso said, as quoted via Reuters. “So in the absence of their mother, what we do is substitute her with a stuffed toy… This is completely natural behavior for him.”

Reynoso added that the toy helps Yuji feel “sheltered and safe,” which is essential for his ability to move, feed and develop normally.

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Reports indicate he weighed just over 400 grams at birth but is otherwise healthy.

Caretakers say the plush toy will only be a temporary support. As Yuji grows older, it will be gradually removed to help him transition toward independence and social interaction with other monkeys.

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Videos of Punch holding onto his plush companion racked up millions of views online, turning him into a global internet favorite.

Local outlets have already nicknamed Yuji “Punch tapatío,” loosely translating to “Guadalajara’s Punch.”