A six‑month‑old Japanese macaque named Punch has become an unexpected internet star after being abandoned by his mother at birth and forming a strong attachment to asoft toyat the Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Clips and images of him clutching a large stuffed orangutan toy while sleeping, playing and exploring his enclosure have spread rapidly on social media, drawing millions of views and sparking global interest in his story of resilience and adaptation.
Punch was born on 26 July 2025 at the Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Garden. Shortly after his birth, his mother rejected him, a phenomenon that can occur in macaque troops, especially among first‑time mothers or under stressful conditions. Without maternal care, the infant would not have survived without intervention.
Zoo staff led by keepers Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi began hand‑raising Punch, bottle‑feeding him and providing blankets for warmth. To help replace the absence of his mother's physical presence and provide emotional comfort, caretakers introduced a plush orangutan, believed to be the IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan toy. From the moment he was given the toy, Punch took to it as his primary form of security and comfort.
Poor Punch the baby macaque was rejected by his mom and now carries his stuffed orangutan toy Everywhere as his mom. But good news, he's starting to make real friends in the troop. Viral cuteness from Ichikawa Zoo.pic.twitter.com/eXcMuuNjUB
Punch, a six-month-old baby macaque monkey who inhabits the Ichikawa Zoo in Japan was born in July 2025.But, Punch's birth rejected and abandoned him shortly after he was born.Zoo keepers gave him a stuffed toy to comfort him. 😭pic.twitter.com/dqTfju5Bmo
Punch, the monkey who went viral because of his inseparable toy, is captured in these touching moments as he tries to communicate with other monkeys.pic.twitter.com/6ktYLsXlTe
Online footage and photographs of Punch walking around his enclosure clutching his stuffed toy have drawn attention across platforms such as X, Instagram and TikTok. In one widely shared video, Punch sits atop his plush companion, seemingly using it as a cushion, and in others he is seen carrying it with him while interacting with his environment.
Social media users have responded passionately to the visuals, with many expressing sympathy and admiration for the young primate's ability to find solace in his toy. A Japanese hashtag roughly translating to #HangInTherePunch has trended nationally and internationally as fans share images and moments from his life.
Punch, the viral lonely monkey, has now been hugged and groomed by an adult monkey for the first timeZoo staff previously gave him a plushie for comfort when he struggled to fit in with other macaquespic.twitter.com/qZIXA0hsBX
Source: International Business Times UK
