Punch, the viral baby macaque who clung to a plush toy after being abandoned by his mother, has now found his girlfriend. Or rather, love found him, and the internet is collectively weeping happy tears. He was tiny, vulnerable, and denied by his mom. He craved unconditional affection, but was instead met with loneliness. Though he faced all the hardships at a tender age, life certainly had big plans for him! At last, love has found him!
The baby macaque, who was initially bullied by other monkeys at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, found a ‘girlfriend’. He had every reason to give up on connection. But, he didn't.
Punch met his lady love
Punch, the macaque, was born in July 2025 but was rejected by his mother after birth. The caretakers at the zoo stepped in to hand-raise him. Abandoned by his mother, he sought comfort in a plush toy, and soon the story captured the world’s heart. The stuffed orangutan became a mother-like figure to him, and he was rarely seen without it. Videos of Punch trying to interact with other monkeys, but being cruelly pushed away, broke the internet’s heart. The hashtag #HangInTherePunch swept the internet. The internet prayed for a miracle, and it looks like the million prayers were finally answered. True love found him!
Who is Punch’s lady love?
The lucky lady's name is Momo, short for Moe-chan. Over the last couple of days, Punch and Momo have been playing around in the enclosure.
In the clips going viral online, the two are seen close, hugging, grooming, cuddling, chasing, and leaping! The internet also thinks Punch’s new companion has the same colour as his beloved plush toy! Punch’s beautiful life is reason enough for all of us to believe in love and its time. True love will find you at the right time.
As you rejoice in Punch’s newfound love, here are quotes that remind why you should never give up on love!
Powerful quotes that remind us to never give up on love
- “May love find you when you least expect, where you least expect.” - Elif Shafak, The Forty Rules of Love
- “Love can only be found through the act of loving.” - Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept
- “God will bring the right person into your life at the right time. Always believe that! If they are not there, God isn't finished yet!” - Shannon L. Alder
- "There is no remedy for love but to love more." - Henry David Thoreau
- "The course of true love never did run smooth." - William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
- “One does not seek love,' she told him, 'it should find you all on it's own.” - Barbara Lieberman, The Treasure of Ravenwood
- “The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
- “I was made and meant to look for you and wait for you and become yours forever.” - Robert Browning
- “Don't rush into love. You'll find the person meant for you when you least expect it.” - Franzie Gubatina
- “Love is everything it’s cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. ” - Erica Jong
Punch was abandoned. Denied mother's love. But now here he is - getting kisses on a Wednesday, and making all our hearts flutter.