Baby Monkey Befriending Stuffed Bear After Mom Can't Care for Him Is Basically Punch 2.0
At this point, we might just have to call 2026 the year of the baby monkey. Months after Punch first went viral for adopting a stuffie as his bestie, we now have a new little guy to adore. We promise he's equally perfect.
The newscaster from CTV News opens this clip by stating, "It doesn't get much cuter than this." You know right away to prepare your eyes for sheer preciousness. In the video, Yuji, the monkey in question, drinks from his bottle and plays with his teddy bear. The caption explains, "A baby monkey at a Mexican zoo has been given a stuffed teddy bear for comfort after [his] inexperienced mother was unable to care for [him], zoo officials said." Who is cuter, Yuji or Punch? We'll let you decide.
@ctvnews A baby monkey at a Mexican zoo has been given a stuffed teddy bear for comfort after its inexperienced mother was unable to care for it, zoo officials said. #animals#monkey
original sound - CTVNews - CTVNews
Commenters loved the latest monkey antics, like @Chantelann, who exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, he is soo cute." At least tied with the cutest. @JQ added what we were all thinking, "Now this is real news." Yup. The best observation came from @jess, though, with, "Lil' guy has to grow into his ears." They're huge.
Many compared Yuji to Punch, including @Fldnmdfkek, who assured us, "Our hearts have enough room for this little one, too!" @Seaside agreed, "Love Punch. Hoping this lil' guy is as strong!" We can love all the baby monkeys.
Related: Punch the Baby Monkey Officially Has a Girlfriend and the Internet Can't Handle It
Learning More About Patas Monkeys
These monkeys go by many names, such as Hussar, Wadi, and Nisnas, but they all hail from a fairly narrow strip of Africa. They live mainly in the savannah and therefore have adapted to running across the desert. That's why these dudes have long legs and bodies, compared to some of their cousins, and can run faster than any primate-34 mph.
One more fun fact from the New England Primate Conservancy: "They also have larger canines, proportional to their size, than any other primate." We can't wait for Yuji to get all his teeth and maybe give us a smile to go with that adorable stuffie.
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 7:20 PM.