How a baby monkey named Punch became the Internet’s newest obsession

Punch, a young Japanese macaque from Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba prefecture, Japan, has unexpectedly become one of the internet’s most talked-about animals.

Born in July 2025 and abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, Punch was hand-raised by zoo staff, who introduced a stuffed orangutan plush toy to comfort the infant during his earliest days. The pairing would later define his global fame.

Videos of Punch clinging tightly to the toy – often dragging the plush companion around the enclosure – began circulating on Japanese social media before spreading rapidly across TikTok and Instagram. Interest intensified as clips showed the young macaque struggling to integrate with the rest of the troop, with scenes of Punch appearing isolated or seeking refuge in the stuffed animal resonating strongly with viewers.

The imagery struck a universal chord. According to international media reports, audiences across platforms reacted with an outpouring of empathy, with many users describing Punch’s attachment to the toy as both heartwarming and deeply poignant. Business Insider, which documented the viral spread of Punch’s videos, noted that viewers frequently framed the monkey’s story through themes of loneliness, resilience, and emotional vulnerability – narratives that tend to travel quickly online.

The story has also triggered wider discussion. Some commentators interpreted footage of Punch being jostled by larger macaques as evidence of bullying, while primate specialists quoted in regional media cautioned that such behaviour often falls within normal macaque social dynamics rather than deliberate aggression.

Even so, public fascination has continued to build. In Singapore, the viral ripple produced an unexpected retail consequence. According to The Straits Times, Ikea Singapore’s Djungelskog orangutan plush toy – the same model associated with Punch – has sold out across both physical and online stores. The 36cm version of the toy, retailing at $19.90, was confirmed to be out of stock, with Ikea stating that a restock is expected.

The retailer acknowledged the sudden spike in attention. “We’re delighted to see that the Djungelskog soft toy has brought comfort to Punch and that their heartwarming interaction has resonated with people around the world,” an Ikea Singapore spokesperson shared with The Straits Times, adding that while the toy has long been popular, recent videos may have “helped shine an extra spotlight on the product”.

For now, Punch’s daily life at Ichikawa City Zoo continues – along with the global audience closely following it – plush companion still firmly in tow.

Zookeepers say the young macaque’s early social difficulties are neither unexpected nor alarming.

“Punch has had some differences with the other monkeys as he has tried to communicate with them, but that is part of the learning process,” zookeeper Kosuke Shikano told The Straits Times. “He is steadily integrating with the troop.”

Over time, caretakers remain hopeful that Punch may no longer rely on the stuffed companion that first captured the internet’s attention.

“I think there will come a day when he no longer needs his stuffed toy,” Shikano said.