Punch the monkey, initially an outcast, finds some friends (and the internet's support)

Punch, a Japanese macaque, received an outpour of online love after videos of him clutching a small orangutan plushie at the Ichikawa City Zoo went viral.

IKEA donates plush orangutans to Punch the Monkey. Get one for $20.

IKEA's Djungelskog stuffed orangutan is available in stores and online for $20. It appears to be the same plush toy Punch has in his enclosure.

Punch the Monkey Is Going to Be Okay, and So Will You

Images of a lonely baby macaque named Punch in Japan have caused widespread despair, but it looks like things are looking up for dear Punch.

An orphaned monkey (and his cuddly pal) has social media swooning

An abandoned baby monkey at a Japanese zoo who found comfort in a stuffed animal is slowly being accepted by the rest of the troop.

Abandoned baby monkey finds comfort in stuffed orangutan, charming zoo visitors

By Tom Bateman and Rikako Maruyama ICHIKAWA, Japan, Feb 20 (Reuters) - At a zoo outside Tokyo, the monkey enclosure has become a must-see attraction thanks to an inseparable pair: Punch, a baby Japanese macaque,

Punch was born in July 2025 and resides in Japan's Ichikawa City Zoo.

Punch, known as Punch-kun in Japan, was born in July 2025 at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo. Unfortunately for the baby macaque, Punch was rejected by his mother and her group of monkey friends shortly after birth — a problem, as macaques tend to stay very close to their mothers when young.
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The full heartbreaking story of Panchi-Kun, the lonely monkey causing meltdowns on Twitter

This sad story started in July 2025, when Punch the monkey was born. Sadly, his biological mother rejected him, which would have been a death sentence for the macaque in the wild. Thankfully, keepers at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan were on hand to help.