Punch the Monkey: Japan's Viral Baby Macaque Who United the Internet

Move over, Moo Deng. The undisputed feel-good story of early 2026 is a tiny, wide-eyed baby snow monkey named Punch — an orphaned Japanese macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, who captured the hearts of millions around the world by clinging to a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort. The Punch monkey story is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, and it shows no signs of slowing down.

Who Is Punch the Monkey?

Punch (Japanese: パンチくん) was born on July 25, 2025, at the Ichikawa City Zoo. 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. Punch needed a swift intervention, and 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.

How Punch Went Viral

On February 5, 2026, the zoo made an online post about Punch's backstory, which became an overnight sensation. More images of Punch with the orangutan plushie went viral in Japan and abroad, and the hashtag #がんばれパンチ — or #HangInTherePunch — began circulating online.

Clips of Punch have racked up tens of millions of views, some surpassing 30 million on TikTok and Instagram. Even Stephen Colbert referenced Punch in his late-night opening monologue.

One particularly viral clip shows Punch dragging the plushie around his enclosure and crawling back to it after unsuccessful attempts to interact with the other monkeys in his troop.

The Bullying Videos That Broke the Internet

Punch was integrated with other macaques at the zoo's Monkey Mountain — home to around 60 monkeys — on January 19, 2026. Due to the lack of a maternal figure, Punch initially struggled with socializing, showing signs of anxiety and isolation.

Videos circulating online showed other monkeys shoving Punch, leaving him only his emotional support toy as comfort. By Thursday, another video emerged appearing to show Punch getting attacked by an older monkey in his troop. The uproar online prompted the zoo to issue a statement.

Notable fan reactions included:

• "We, as a society, should create a Panchi-kun protection squad"
• "Stop showing me that little monkey being bullied — I will fly to Japan and beat up the mean monkeys"

The Zoo Responds — and Primatologists Weigh In

In their statement, zookeepers reiterated that "no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward" Punch, and asked that the public "support Punch's effort rather than feel sorry for him." "While Punch is scolded, he shows resilience and mental strength," the statement said.

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.

IKEA Steps In — and Sells Out

Ichikawa City Mayor Ko Tanaka wrote on X that Petra Färe, president and chief sustainability officer of IKEA Japan, donated multiple replacements of the $20 "DJUNGELSKOG" soft orangutan toy, as well as new plushies for Punch.

On February 17, IKEA representatives visited the Ichikawa City Zoo and donated 33 stuffed toys to Punch. The IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan subsequently sold out across multiple markets, with resale prices surging online.

Where Punch Stands Now

As of February 12, the zoo noted that Punch had been interacting with more macaques as the days went by, though "there are still times when he gets scolded, but while learning the rules of the group."

According to zoo officials, Punch's internet popularity led to a surge in visitors to the zoo starting in February 2026, with "huge lines" forming outside — something zoo officials considered unprecedented, causing them to apologize for delays in entry.

The world is watching, rooting, and waiting — and for now, Punch and his little stuffed orangutan are proof that even the internet can agree on something worth caring about.