punch monkey Punch is a baby Japanese macaque born July 26, 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, Japan, who was abandoned by his mother and hand raised by keepers, the zoo said.
Staff gave Punch an IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plushie to provide comfort and a grip similar to a mother, and photos and videos of the pair went viral after the zoo posted his story online, zoo officials and multiple news outlets reported.
Footage shared online showed Punch clinging to the plushie while other macaques sometimes pushed or scolded him, and later clips showed him being groomed and playing with other young monkeys, indicating gradual integration into the troop, the zoo said.
The viral attention produced large crowds at the small zoo, with Ichikawa City Zoo reporting unprecedented lines and asking visitors to follow viewing rules, and USA TODAY reporting the zoo welcomed about 5,200 visitors in one day.
IKEA representatives visited the zoo and donated replacement stuffed animals; the zoo and local reports said the retailer delivered 33 Djungelskog plushies to Punch and the facility.
Expert Commentary Context And Wider Reactions
Primatologists and animal welfare experts cited in news accounts linked Punch’s abandonment to maternal inexperience and environmental stress, with Alison Behie of Australian National University noting first‑time mothers and heatwaves can contribute to such outcomes.
Kosuke Shikano, a zookeeper, explained keepers tried towels before offering the plushie because baby macaques cling at birth to build muscle and security, and the soft toy was meant to help Punch later integrate with the troop.
Commentary has also connected Punch’s attachment to the plushie with classic attachment research, as noted by The Conversation and other outlets, which compared the situation to mid‑20th century experiments showing infant primates prefer comforting contact.
Outside reactions included widespread social media support under the hashtag HangInTherePunch, public concern over potential scams and unofficial fundraisers, and a reminder from observers to keep monkeys with their species, as reported by multiple outlets.
The zoo posted updates that Punch is eating independently and spending more time with other monkeys, and officials asked the public to support only fundraisers announced by the institution, according to the zoo’s social posts.
