World News for Students of English

02-03-2026 07:00

At Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, a baby Japanese macaque named Punch has become a popular attraction.

When his mother abandoned him shortly after birth, zoo visitors alerted staff, who quickly intervened because baby macaques normally cling to their mothers for strength and security.

Keepers tried different substitutes, such as towels and soft toys, before choosing a stuffed orangutan with long hair that Punch could easily hold. They hoped its monkey-like appearance would help him later integrate into the troop. Since then, Punch has rarely been seen without the toy, carrying it everywhere despite its size. Videos of the pair went viral, attracting many visitors. Zookeepers believe extreme summer heat may have caused the mother to abandon him. Although Punch has had some difficulties communicating with other monkeys, staff say he is slowly learning social skills and becoming part of the group.

Shoppers have gone crazy for the IKEA plush toy after a video of Punch went viral.

Difficult words: alert (to tell someone about a problem or danger), intervene (to step in and help in a situation), troop (a group of monkeys).

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