Meet the 'Colombian Punch': The Churuco Monkey Who Developed an Attachment to a Plush Toy in Neiva
On social media, the story of Punch, a baby Japanese macaque who developed an affection for a plush toy after being rejected by its mother at a zoo in Ichikawa, went viral.
TL;DR
- A baby churuco monkey in Huila, Colombia, was abandoned by its mother and kept as a pet.
- The monkey developed an attachment to a plush toy due to stress, malnutrition, fear, and imprinting caused by human contact.
- This behavior mirrors that of a viral Japanese macaque named Punch, who also clung to a toy after maternal rejection.
- Colombian authorities are using this case to highlight the harmful effects of wildlife trafficking and illegal pet ownership.
- The churuco monkey is currently in rehabilitation to learn proper feeding and to overcome its human dependency before possible release.