A seven-month-old Japanese macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture has become an unexpected internet sensation after videos of his struggle to integrate into his troop went viral on social media.
THE HEARTWARMING STORY OF PUNCH-KUN
Punch was born on July 25, 2025, at the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
He was named in tribute to Monkey Punch, the celebrated manga artist behind Lupin the Third.
Sadly, soon after his birth, his mother refused to care for him—a behavior sometimes observed in primates when a newborn appears weak, unwell, or simply fails to elicit the expected maternal respons
Zookeepers intervened and began hand-raising the infant macaque.
By January 2026, when he was strong enough, they introduced him to the main troop.
The transition was difficult.
Without a biological mother to shield him, Punch struggled to fit in and occasionally endured rough treatment from other macaques—an unfortunate but common part of establishing social rank within macaque groups.
To help ease his anxiety during this vulnerable time, caretakers gave him a soft orange plush orangutan, later recognized as resembling IKEA’s popular Djungelskog toy.
Punch immediately bonded with it.
He carried “Ora-mama,” as fans affectionately dubbed it, wherever he went—clinging to it for comfort, snuggling into it for security, and treating it like a surrogate mother.
PUNCH-KUN: ONLINE SENSATION
Videos of the tiny macaque making his way around the enclosure with his oversized plush companion quickly went viral.
One TikTok clip that quickly went viral showed Punch approaching an adult macaque, only to be pushed away.
Startled, he turned and dashed back to his beloved “Ora-mama” for comfort.
@zyl.novym Punch, the abandoned monkey who soared to fame after being seen tugging around a stuffed toy, was filmed seeking comfort with the plushie after he was bullied by older monkeys at Ichikawa Zoo in Japan. The baby monkey was put into the macaque enclosure in late January following a period of hand-rearing by zoo keepers after he was abandoned by his mother. The orangutan plush was given to Punch to serve as a surrogate mother and to provide tactile comfort. #monkey #punch #fblifestyle ? original sound - Zyl Novym
The video, reposted by TikTok user @zyl.novym, drew an outpouring of empathy in the comments, with viewers expressing heartbreak and affection for the little macaque’s struggle.
Since then, crowds of visitors have been heading to the Ichikawa Zoo to see Punch.
UPDATES ON PUNCH-KUN
Social media has been flooded with clips of him attempting to interact with the other macaques in the enclosure.
Many of the adorable videos—like Punch sprinting excitedly toward his favorite zookeepers during feeding time—quickly go viral.
But not all moments are easy to watch.
A number of videos also show Punch’s ongoing challenges in socializing with the troop, including instances where he is “bullied” by the other monkeys.
One widely shared clip sparked an outrage online: an older macaque draged Punch by the leg.
The zoo later clarified in a statement that the behavior was likely a form of normal “scolding” within macaque social dynamics rather than actual aggression.
Punch was unharmed.
The statement read, as translated in English: "From what I could see, there were no scenes of him being scolded, and he was observed playing with the other baby monkeys.
"During mealtime, he came down from the keeper’s foot on his own and started eating by himself. He continues to do well!"
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— ??????????? (@ichikawa_zoo) February 23, 2026
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The latest updates: Punch-kun appears to have made some new friends in the troop.
He's been spotted being groomed by an adult monkey on one occasion, and another time receiving a warm hug from one.
@overtime I can sleep in peace now ???? #punch #monkey #wholesome #cute #love ? Little Things - Adrián Berenguer
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