Punch the Monkey: Japan's Viral Baby Macaque Wins the Internet in 2026
Move over, Moo Deng. The undisputed feel-good story of early 2026 belongs to Punch the Monkey — a tiny, orphaned Japanese macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, who has captured tens of millions of hearts worldwide by clinging to a stuffed IKEA orangutan for comfort.
Who Is Punch the Monkey?
Punch — known in Japan as Panchi-kun (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. After being abandoned by his mother, he was hand-raised by two caretakers who bottle-fed him.
Japanese baby macaques typically cling to their mothers to build muscle strength and for a sense of security. 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. Fans quickly nicknamed the plushie "Oran-Mama."
How Punch the Monkey 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.
The Bullying That Broke Everyone's Heart
Videos circulating online showed other monkeys shoving Punch, leaving him only his emotional support toy as comfort. The uproar prompted the zoo to issue a public statement. Zookeepers clarified 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." The statement added: "While Punch is scolded, he shows resilience and mental strength."
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 zoo and donated 33 stuffed toys.
The goodwill came with a side effect: the IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan subsequently sold out across multiple markets, with resale prices surging online. The toy is now listed for hundreds of dollars on eBay.
Latest Update: Punch Is Making Friends
As of February 24, 2026 ET, the news from Ichikawa City Zoo is genuinely hopeful. A keeper shared that there were no scenes of Punch being scolded and that he was observed playing with the other baby monkeys.
Punch the Monkey Becomes a Tourism Phenomenon
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Zoo visitors in a single day | 6,000+ (Emperor's Birthday weekend) |
| Entry wait time | Up to 2 hours |
| Viral video views | 30M+ on TikTok and Instagram |
| IKEA plushies donated | 33 |
| DJUNGELSKOG resale price | Hundreds of USD on eBay |
The zoo began restricting admission by 3:00 PM on peak days to protect both guests and animals.
Why Punch the Monkey Resonates Globally
Punch's attachment to his IKEA plushie companion mirrors findings from Harry Harlow's landmark 1950s psychology experiments, which demonstrated that infant primates consistently preferred soft, comforting surrogate mothers over wire ones that provided only food. The small monkey who started 2026 sitting alone with a stuffed toy is now increasingly sitting among his troop — and the whole world is watching every step.
