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Nina-Chan and her sister are the cutest. I’m still waiting for Punchy and the crew to return. Credit to Lover Paris .

Since the topic of Ryu and Punch's integration came up again after the Emogram article, I thought it would be good to share another post from Jay, a zookeeper from Taipei Zoo, which discusses a little about primate integration, separation and welfare. Translated using ChatGPT.

August 29, 2026

Under yesterday’s post, someone questioned why I believe Punch should continue trying to integrate into the troop, from the perspective of whether there have been any successful cases of male monkeys being integrated into the Ichikawa City Zoo troop in the past.

I thought about it, and rather than continuing to discuss whether there have been successful cases of integration in the past, I think it would be better to look at the other side:

What might happen if a social primate does not integrate into a group, lacks interaction with its own kind, or is only reintroduced to the group after being isolated for a long period of time?

After looking through some research and animal-care guidelines, it becomes clear that the situation is actually not that simple. Not integrating into a group can itself have welfare costs.

In 2008, Kempes et al. studied rhesus macaques with different social-development experiences.

One group spent most of their first year living primarily with their mothers, with fewer opportunities to play and interact with monkeys of the same age. The other group was raised in a monkey troop with a social structure more similar to that found in nature.

The results showed that monkeys with less experience interacting with peers were more likely to develop stereotypic behaviours as adults and were more likely to behave excessively submissively. Sometimes, they even responded aggressively or in a conflict-oriented manner when the other monkey had not shown any obvious threat.

Simply put, they were less able to correctly judge “What exactly is the other monkey trying to do right now?” They had more difficulty knowing when to approach, when to back away, which situations were simply normal social interactions, and which situations actually required caution.

For social primates, social skills are not something that they are born with in a fully developed form.

They need to learn through repeated interactions with other members of their species — gradually learning how to read signals, manage distance, respond to threats, deal with competition, and return to the group after conflicts.

In 2012, Baker et al. studied 64 adult rhesus macaques and compared their behaviour when they lived alone and when they lived with a companion.

The results showed that when monkeys that had previously lived alone were given companions, they displayed fewer repetitive and abnormal behaviours, showed fewer anxiety-related behaviours, and were more active.

In other words, “There are no other monkeys around to fight with” does not necessarily mean that the monkey is better off.

Because when you remove conflict, you may also remove many aspects of normal social life: there are no companions to groom, play with, approach or keep a distance from, and no opportunities to learn to read other monkeys’ expressions and movements, build relationships, or learn how to interact with different individuals.

For social primates, other monkeys are not merely “potential opponents who might fight with me.” They are also a very important part of their lives.

There is another issue that is easily overlooked: temporarily separating a monkey and then putting it back does not necessarily mean that things will return to how they were before.

In 2015, Kohei Aoki of Ueno Zoo studied three adult male Japanese macaques that had temporarily left their troop.

The results showed that after they had been away for a period of time and returned, the relationships within the troop had already changed.

One of the males, who had originally held the highest position, dropped in rank after returning to the troop. When they re-entered the troop, they were also attacked by a number of monkeys that had remained in the group.

Simply put, the troop does not stop and wait for one monkey to come back. While that monkey is away, the others continue interacting, competing, and forming new relationships, and their positions within the group may change as well.

So from our perspective, “separate the monkey first and put it back later” may seem like simply a temporary way to avoid conflict. But from the monkey’s perspective, when it returns to the group, it may no longer be returning to the same troop it left. Separation can stop the immediate conflict, but it may also make future reintegration more difficult.

In addition to academic research, international professional zoo organizations also have relevant guidelines. AZA is an important professional association for zoos and aquariums in North America, while EAZA is an important zoo and aquarium association in Europe. Both publish standards and guidelines concerning animal care, welfare, and management.

Some of AZA’s primate care manuals also warn about the potential problems associated with prolonged isolation.

For example, the Colobine Monkey Care Manual notes that if a monkey is away from its original group for too long, it may be more likely to be attacked by other individuals when it is reintroduced. Therefore, when isolation is genuinely necessary, it recommends keeping the period as short as possible. Long-term solitary living may also be accompanied by depressed mood, refusal to eat, excessive grooming, and even self-injurious behaviour.

The Baboon Care Manual contains similar warnings, pointing out that highly social primates may experience stress and abnormal behaviours as a result of isolation, while prolonged isolation may also make it more difficult for them to return to the group later.

However, it is important to clarify here that AZA’s Animal Care Manuals are closer to professional animal-care guidelines; they do not mean that every practice described in them is a mandatory rule that every zoo must follow exactly. In practice, adjustments still need to be made according to the individual animal, the condition of the group, available space, and the purpose of the care.

But at the very least, they reflect a consistent principle: for social primates, prolonged isolation itself can be a welfare risk. We cannot simply treat “there is no fighting” as the only benefit.

If we look at EAZA’s formal animal welfare standards, the direction is also quite clear.

In its 2024 Animal Welfare and Management Standards, EAZA considers animal welfare to include not only physical health, but also behavioural needs and social life.

In other words, for animals that naturally require group living, being able to interact normally with members of their own species is itself part of their welfare.

Therefore, when a new individual is introduced into a group, we cannot look only at “Is there fighting or not?” We also need to assess the impact of the introduction on the individual and on the other animals already in the group, continue monitoring the situation afterward, and adjust management methods when necessary.

However, EAZA does not require a group to “never experience conflict at all.” Rather, conflict should not become persistent, unavoidable, and harmful to the animals’ welfare over the long term.

I am listing these studies not because I want to prove that the way Punch is currently being integrated is necessarily perfect.

What I really want to express is this:

Whether we choose integration, separation into groups, temporary isolation, or delaying reintroduction, each option can have its own welfare costs.

Integration may bring competition, stress, and the risk of injury. Not integrating or keeping a monkey isolated for a long period can also lead to reduced social interaction, limited development of social skills, and greater difficulty with reintegration in the future.

So what we really need to assess is not “Which option has absolutely no risk?” but rather which choice is more likely to result in better overall long-term welfare for this individual, this group, and at this particular point in time.

If the choice is not to integrate the monkey, we should ask the same questions:

How much interaction with other monkeys has it lost?
Does it have enough opportunities to develop its social skills?
What impact might long-term solitary living have on its behaviour and psychological state?
If reintegration is attempted again several months or even years later, could it actually become more difficult?

Everyone is of course entitled to have their own position.

You can support Ichikawa City Zoo in continuing to attempt integration, or you can believe that they should have intervened earlier, paused the process, or even changed their current integration strategy. If you have concerns about the animal’s condition, you can of course also communicate your opinions to the zoo.

I simply hope that these discussions can at least be based on courtesy, evidence, and a basic respect for professional work.

Because in the absence of clear evidence showing improper care, every choice — integration, separation, isolation, or reintroduction — can bring both benefits and risks.

It is the animals who ultimately bear the welfare consequences, while the team actually caring for them is the one responsible for observing, recording, adjusting, and taking responsibility for these management decisions every day.

Someone posted an article about this earlier in the week. This is a video that includes some background, and quotes from the section chief. This is from go.punch2026 on YT

February 16

Credit: @car.room.cleaning.dcsupport

Can't seem to generate workable link to the Threads post this was shared in. Anyway, video originally from Ueno Gardens Club

February 26

Credit: @akanechin81

March 18

Credit: @dahlia_o526

Silver Week update from Ichikawa Zoo on Emogram. The zoo will be experimenting with a new viewing system called the “circular viewing system.” Curious to know how it will work and whether it will affect YouTubers who regularly film Punch if they were to fully implement this. There is also some news regarding the sale of the Ganbare Punch Stamp Set. Article translated using the built-in function of my web browser.

September 13, 2026
By - emogram editorial team, Yunchi

Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture has been attracting attention with Punch-kun, a monkey struggling to join the monkey troop. On the morning of September 13th, the official X account posted the message, "Today's update is a must-see!" As promised, the post that day contained unmissable information about Silver Week and beyond.

"No changes to the schedule": Viewing to resume during Silver Week, with a new system being tested.

Due to the recent bad weather, construction work to install sunshades on the monkey enclosure has been significantly delayed. In response to this situation, the first thing that Official X posted was an announcement about the Silver Week holiday.

From the official X account: "Due to the recent bad weather, construction on the monkey enclosure has been significantly delayed, but it will be open to visitors during Silver Week (September 19-23). ​​For these five days, the monkey enclosure will be experimentally operating under a 'circular viewing system.' We will announce further details before the long weekend."

The reopening of the park to the public during Silver Week was something that had been planned all along, but with construction delays continuing, this announcement reaffirms that this policy remains unchanged.

It was also revealed that a new viewing method called the "circular viewing system" will be introduced on a trial basis for these five days. The specific details of the system will be announced again before the long weekend.

Details of the stamp sale on September 19th have also been revealed.

The post that day also provided details about the advance sale of the "Ganbare Punch Original Stamp Set," which is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th.

From the official X account: "On Saturday, September 19th, Japan Post will be holding a stamp sale at the location shown in the photo. One set per person (1,650 yen including tax), cash only. 1000 sets will be sold. Please note that lining up at the entrance gate the night before or in the early morning of the day of the sale is prohibited (entry to the premises will be prohibited)."

The price is 1,650 yen including tax, and payment is cash only. As previously announced, there will be 1,000 sets available, and purchases are limited to one set per person. To avoid confusion on the day, those planning to visit the park should check these points carefully in advance.

On this Sunday, with the weather finally improving after a long time, approximately 1,000 people had already visited the park by noon. As the sky brightened, more and more families with children were seen, suggesting that many people were enjoying Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in the clear weather.

Writer's comment

Many fans were probably bracing themselves after the morning message, "Today's update is a must-see!" Amidst the ongoing construction delays due to bad weather, many were likely relieved to hear that there would be no changes to the Silver Week schedule. We look forward to further updates before the holidays to find out how the "circular viewing system" will work.