Latest update:
Punch, a young Japanese macaque at the Ishikawa City Zoo, has gone viral for holding the plush orangutan Oran Mama. His journey from abandonment to acceptance has inspired millions.
Punch, a young Japanese macaque at the Ishikawa City Zoo, has gone viral for holding the plush orangutan Oran Mama. His journey from abandonment to acceptance has inspired millions. (Image: X)
Punch, a baby Japanese macaque from the Ishikawa City Zoo in Japan, has won hearts around the world after videos showed him clinging to a stuffed orangutan after his mother abandoned him.
Punch was born in July 2025, and was rejected by his biological mother shortly after birth. Zookeepers had to step in to raise the baby macaque, making sure it was fed and cared for during the crucial first weeks of its life.
To provide comfort, his caregivers have inserted an orangutan plush toy – said to be an IKEA soft toy – into his enclosure. Punch quickly became attached to him, hugged him tightly, carried him everywhere, and even slept with him. The toy quickly became his constant companion, with many online affectionately calling her his “surrogate mother.”
Videos of Punch cuddling the stuffed animal began going viral on social media, sparking an emotional response from viewers around the world. The hashtag #HangInTherePunch gained huge traction as users expressed their sympathy for the abandoned monkey and their admiration for its resilience.
Meet Punch, a monkey in the Japanese Zoo who has a sad story. His mother left him when he was a baby, so his caregivers raised him. He was struggling to live with the other monkeys. The staff gave him a soft toy for comfort, and he now holds it close to him and spends most of his time alone. pic.twitter.com/hQxptQ8kZs— Page Z (@ThePageZ_) February 16, 2026
The viral fame also brought renewed interest to the zoo, as visitors came to catch a glimpse of the baby macaque and his adorable companion.
In a reassuring development, zoo officials recently confirmed that Punch has begun to integrate into its troop. His caretakers noticed another monkey grooming him, a key sign of social bonding and acceptance among primates. The new footage shows Punch playing and interacting more confidently with other macaques.
Despite finding companionship within the troop, Punch still keeps his stuffed toy close by, a symbol of comfort during a difficult start to life. His journey from abandonment to viral sensation and finally finding a social family has become a poignant story of resilience that continues to melt hearts online.
21 February 2026, 20:02 IST
Read more
