Punch the Monkey Japan: The Viral Baby Macaque With an IKEA Stuffed Animal Has the World Rooting for Him

Move over, Moo Deng. The undisputed feel-good story of 2026 is Punch the monkey — a tiny, orphaned Japanese macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, who captured tens of millions of hearts by clinging to a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort. Here is everything you need to know about Punch the monkey, his journey, and why the world cannot stop watching.

Who Is Punch the Monkey?

Punch (Japanese: パンチくん) is a baby Japanese macaque, or snow monkey, born on July 26, 2025, at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. He was named after Monkey Punch, the mangaka who authored Lupin the Third. He was subsequently abandoned by his mother, who lacked interest in raising him. The day after, he was artificially fed and two caretakers began hand-raising him.

Japanese baby macaques typically cling to their mothers to build muscle strength and for a sense of security, so Punch needed swift intervention. Zookeepers experimented with substitutes including rolled-up towels and other stuffed animals before settling on the orange, bug-eyed orangutan sold by Swedish furniture brand IKEA.

The IKEA Stuffed Orangutan — "Oran-Mama"

The IKEA DJUNGELSKOG plush orangutan — affectionately nicknamed "Oran-Mama" by fans — became Punch's constant companion.

One particularly adorable but heartbreaking clip shows Punch crawling around, desperately trying to get the plushie to hug him back. Clips of Punch racked up tens of millions of views, some surpassing the 30-million mark on TikTok and Instagram. Even Stephen Colbert referenced Punch in his late-night opening monologue.

The normally $20 IKEA toy became a $350 resale listing on eBay as demand exploded worldwide. IKEA stores sold out globally.

Punch Monkey Japan: The Bullying That Broke the Internet

Videos circulating online showed other monkeys shoving Punch, leaving him only his emotional support toy as comfort. On X, many Japanese fans began using the hashtag #がんばれパンチ — which loosely translates to #HangInTherePunch — to express their solidarity. "We, as a society, should create a Panchi-kun protection squad," wrote one X user. "Stop showing me that little monkey being bullied by other monkeys — I will fly to Japan and beat up the mean monkeys," wrote another.

Punch the Monkey's Progress: Is He Making Friends?

The good news keeps coming. The zoo wrote on X: "Punch is gradually deepening his interactions with the troop of monkeys! He's getting groomed, playfully poking at others, getting scolded, and having all sorts of experiences every day, steadily learning how to live as a monkey within the troop!"

Primatologists told the BBC that repeated interactions — including rejection or scolding — are essential steps toward acceptance within macaque groups and play a critical role in long-term social health. The zoo has also asked the public to "support Punch's effort rather than feel sorry for him."

IKEA Japan Steps In — and the Zoo Gets Flooded

On February 17, IKEA representatives visited the Ichikawa City Zoo and donated 33 stuffed toys to Punch, including additional orangutans. IKEA Japan posted publicly: "We're ALL Punch's family now," sending its own social media following into meltdown.

Punch monkey Japan fans have driven "huge lines" forming outside Ichikawa City Zoo — something zoo officials considered unprecedented — causing them to apologize for delays in entry.

Why Punch the Monkey Resonates So Deeply

Punch arrives in a moment when online audiences are primed for emotional, authentic storytelling about resilience and belonging. His story — orphaned, clutching a surrogate, slowly finding his way — has been projected onto by millions as a metaphor for loneliness, acceptance, and what it feels like to be on the outside looking in.

Whether Punch the monkey fully wins over his troop is a story still being written — but with the entire internet cheering #HangInTherePunch, he has already won something far bigger.