Punch the monkey has made new friends

It can sometimes be quite tricky to make friends, and that can make you feel quite lonely.

But for one little monkey in Japan, his friendship fortunes seem to be turning around.

Punch the Japanese macaque captured hearts all over the world after he was abandoned by his mum and other monkeys in his troop (what groups of monkeys are called) when he was born eight months ago.

Macaques are very hierarchical animals, which means they have a strict social order, and can sometimes be pretty mean to newcomers.

To help Punch feel less lonely, keepers at Ichikawa Zoo, where he lives, gave him a stuffed orangutan toy, which he immediately became extremely attached to.

Pictures of Punch dragging the toy around with him went viral and people have been travelling far and wide ever since to see baby Punch.

But in happy news, Punch seems to be getting on a lot better, and even making some monkey mates.

Takashi Yasunaga, head of Ichikawa Zoo and gardens division said that Punch is trying his best to make new friends: "Recently, he has started to actively approach the other monkeys on his own, trying to communicate with them, and actually playing together with them.

"We've been seeing many more scenes like that, and as caretakers, we find that very encouraging."

Punch has increased visitor numbers to Ichikawa Zoo so much over the last few months that there are now strict rules in place.

"When so many people's eyes are focused on the monkey enclosure, the monkeys get stressed… We've established viewing rules around the monkey area, increased staff numbers to help guide and manage the flow of visitors," Yasunaga said.