A wide-eyed baby snow monkey named Punch has captured the hearts of millions worldwide after being spotted clinging to a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
Who Is Punch the Monkey?
Punch, an orphaned Japanese macaque, was born on July 25, 2025. He was named after Monkey Punch, the legendary mangaka behind the popular series Lupin the Third.
Shortly after birth, Punch was abandoned by his mother, who showed no interest in raising him. The following day, zookeepers began artificial feeding, and two caretakers took on the responsibility of hand-raising him.
In the wild and captivity alike, Japanese baby macaques typically cling tightly to their mothers to develop muscle strength and gain a sense of security. Without that maternal bond, Punch required urgent intervention.
Zookeepers initially experimented with rolled-up towels and various stuffed animals before settling on an orange, bug-eyed orangutan plush toy sold by Swedish furniture giant IKEA. The toy quickly became Punch’s emotional anchor.
How Punch Went Viral
On February 5, 2026, the zoo shared Punch’s backstory online — and the response was immediate. Photos and videos of the tiny macaque clutching his plush companion spread rapidly across social media platforms in Japan and internationally.
The hashtag #HangInTherePunch soon began trending, with clips of Punch amassing tens of millions of views. Some videos have surpassed 30 million views on TikTok and Instagram.
Struggles at Monkey Mountain
Punch was introduced to other macaques at the zoo’s Monkey Mountain exhibit — home to around 60 monkeys — on January 19, 2026. However, lacking early maternal socialisation, he initially struggled to integrate.
Videos circulating online showed other monkeys pushing him away, often leaving Punch clinging to his stuffed toy for comfort.
Visitor Surge at Ichikawa City Zoo
Zoo officials say Punch’s viral fame led to an unprecedented surge in visitors beginning February 2026. Huge lines formed outside the facility, prompting the zoo to issue apologies for entry delays.
Despite his difficult start in life, Punch’s resilience — and his bond with a simple stuffed toy — has turned him into a global symbol of comfort, survival and unexpected companionship.
