BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty delivered a heartwarming update about Punch the monkey, who was rejected by his mother and bullied at a Japanese zoo
09:40, 07 Mar 2026Updated 09:42, 07 Mar 2026
Punch has parted ways with his beloved teddy(Image: BBC)
Naga Munchetty shared an uplifting update on Punch the monkey, who had previously been shunned by his mother and subjected to mistreatment by fellow primates at a Japanese zoo.
During Saturday’s BBC Breakfast, Naga and Charlie Stayt offered a “positive” progress report on the adored monkey, whose plight has captured hearts across social media.
Charlie opened, “Now, you may be familiar with the story of Punch. That’s the baby monkey that was given a cuddly toy.”
With footage of Punch displayed on screen, the presenter elaborated, “There he is, after he was rejected by his family at the zoo in Japan. A bit worried about him.”
Naga continued, “We have an update there, a positive update. Keepers have gradually been reintroducing Punch to the macaque troop, and it seems he’s parted ways with his stuffed orangutan as one of the adult females has taken him under her wing,” reports the Mirror.
“She grooms him, she holds him. Punch has even been spotted playing with some of the younger members of the troop as well.”
Charlie and Naga delivered the positive update on BBC Breakfast(Image: BBC)
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As footage showed Punch dangling from a branch, Naga remarked, “I think it kind of comes a bit more naturally to Punch. He’s doing well.
“And that’s good to see,” Charlie responded.
Audiences also flocked to social media to express their reactions to the touching news, with one posting, “That’s great news – however, can we petition the zoo to change and include some greenery and trees in the enclosure for them? It’s a concrete jungle, and no natural foliage for them.”
Another proposed, “Can the BBC Verify team investigate?” A third viewer commented: “Aw, I am so glad.”
Punch the monkey has been taken in by a female monkey(Image: BBC)
Meanwhile, BBC Breakfast featured an interview with the family of missing student Jack O’Sullivan, during which his mother made a fresh emotional appeal.
“Even at three, four o’clock in the morning, it could be that somebody has inadvertently seen something and not realised the significance, even after all this time,” Jack’s mum, Catherine, shared.
“But he hasn’t been abducted by an alien, you know, and he’s vanished into thin air. So I genuinely myself, feel that somebody does know more than what we do.”
BBC Breakfast airs daily at 6am on BBC One.
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