Punch the Monkey Japan: The Latest Update on the Baby Macaque Taking Over the Internet
The feel-good viral story of 2026 belongs to a tiny orphaned Japanese macaque named Punch — and as of this week, the punch monkey update the whole world has been waiting for has finally arrived. The baby snow monkey at Japan's Ichikawa City Zoo is making real friends, and the internet could not be more relieved.
Who Is Punch the Monkey and Where Is He From
Punch-kun, born July 26, 2025, is a baby Japanese macaque, or snow monkey, at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. He was named after Monkey Punch, the mangaka who authored Lupin the Third.
The Japanese macaque was rescued from being abandoned and raised through hand-rearing by zookeepers. Within weeks, his love for his plushie — which he clutches around the zoo and cuddles with while he sleeps — made him a beloved figure online, with videos and photos racking up millions of views.
The Stuffed Orangutan That Started It All
To comfort Punch in the absence of a mother, zookeepers gave him an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG stuffed orangutan plush — which fans quickly nicknamed "Oran-Mama." He now carries it everywhere.
On February 5, 2026, the zoo made an online post about Punch's backstory, which became an overnight sensation. The hashtag #がんばれパンチ, or #HangInTherePunch, began circulating online. Clips surpassed 30 million views on TikTok and Instagram, and even late-night host Stephen Colbert referenced the punch monkey story in his opening monologue.
Punch the Monkey Was Bullied — and the Internet Erupted
Videos circulating online showed other monkeys shoving Punch, leaving him only his emotional support toy as comfort. One user wrote: "stop showing me that little monkey being bullied by other monkeys... i will fly to japan and beat up the mean monkeys."
The uproar prompted the zoo to issue a public statement clarifying that "no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward" Punch, and asking the public to "support Punch's effort rather than feel sorry for him." Zookeepers added: "While Punch is scolded, he shows resilience and mental strength."
The Latest Punch the Monkey Update: He Is Making Friends
The most heartwarming punch the monkey update arrived this week. The zoo confirmed on X that Punch is not being scolded by the other monkeys — he is actively playing with baby monkeys.
New footage shows Punch staying close to a larger monkey and following it around the enclosure. The zoo described the bond forming, saying "this big monkey has accepted Punch, and Punch has completely grown attached." It is a significant milestone for a macaque who only weeks ago was retreating to his stuffed toy after every failed social interaction.
IKEA Sold Out Worldwide Because of Punch Monkey Japan
On February 17, IKEA representatives visited the zoo and donated 33 stuffed toys to Punch. The IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan subsequently sold out across multiple markets, with resale prices surging online.
The $20 IKEA toy became a $350 resale listing on eBay, with store stocks depleted in Japan, the U.S., and South Korea. IKEA's social media accounts across multiple countries posted tributes to Punch, with the caption "We're ALL Punch's family now."
Punch Monkey Japan Transforms a Little-Known Zoo
The punch monkey Japan phenomenon has had a direct and measurable impact on the Ichikawa City Zoo, which was largely unknown before February 2026. Zoo officials described unprecedented "huge lines" forming outside, prompting them to apologize for entry delays.
Punch's attachment to his IKEA plushie 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 alone with a stuffed toy is now, slowly but surely, finding his place in the troop — and the whole world is watching every step.
