1265: Is Punch the monkey really just like us? episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 26, 2026 · 12 MIN

1265: Is Punch the monkey really just like us?

from Science Friday · host Science Friday

When Punch the monkey was abandoned by his mother, zookeepers gave him a surrogate and unexpected source of comfort: a stuffed animal. Videos of Punch snuggling the stuffie went viral, and, as his stardom rose, millions of us began wondering,  “Is Punch OK? Does he have a girlfriend?” Primatologist Christine Webb joins Host Flora Lichtman to talk about the ways humans relate to our closest relatives, and whether we can—and should—map human feelings onto other primates.Guest:Christine Webb is an assistant professor of environmental studies (CK) at New York University. She is the author of “The Arrogant Ape: The Myth of Human Exceptionalism and Why It Matters.”Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 26, 2026

Embed this episode

A young macaque at a zoo in Japan has a fan base that can’t get enough of him. Why are we so invested in the social life of one cute monkey?

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

NOW PLAYING

1265: Is Punch the monkey really just like us?

0:00 12:18

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Science Friday?

This episode is 12 minutes long.

When was this Science Friday episode published?

This episode was published on March 26, 2026.

Can I download this Science Friday episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!