‘High-ranking’ monkeys removed from baby Punch’s enclosure after claims of bullying

• Several “high-ranking” monkeys have been removed from baby Punch’s enclosure at Ichikawa Zoo in Japan following claims of bullying.
• Punch the macaque went viral earlier this year after being abandoned by his mother and adopting a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort.
• He was later accepted by a new troop and was pictured riding on the back of another macaque and being groomed and cuddled by his peers, leading him to spend less time with his soft toy.
• The zoo said it had recently received a number of messages from the public, concerned that Punch was being bullied; they said that Punch spent most of his day peacefully and these were species-appropriate “disciplinary actions”.
• However, a few of the “high-ranking” macaques had “demonstrated aggression more frequently” and they have been removed from the troop temporarily, with further monitoring planned.