Baby Monkey Punch And His Plush Toy Melt Hearts Worldwide

At Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo, a tiny macaque named Punch has captured the world’s attention, not with acrobatics or antics, but by clinging steadfastly to a plush orangutan toy. Born on July 26, 2025, weighing just 500 grams, Punch’s first days were marked by heartbreak: his mother, exhausted by her first summer birth, could not care for him. As reported by Mainichi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun, this left the newborn vulnerable, his survival uncertain—until a team of devoted caregivers stepped in. “In the wild, that would have meant certain death. At the zoo, where Punch was raised through hand-rearing, it meant something else: survival, and a substitute for the one thing zookeepers couldn’t provide,” wrote Crystal Bell for Mashable. Zookeepers Kosuke Shikano and Shumpei Miyakoshi took on the delicate task of hand-raising the infant, ensuring he grew up surrounded by the sights, sounds, and smells of his species. Their hope was that Punch would one day thrive among his own kind, not just survive in isolation. But how do you replace a mother’s warmth? The answer, it turned out, was both simple and profound. Caregivers introduced Punch to a variety of soft toys—penguins, giraffes, even rolled towels—but it was an orangutan plush from IKEA, the DJUNGELSKOG, that Punch latched onto. Its textured fur and primate-like appearance seemed to offer comfort, serving as what zookeeper Kano Hiroyuki, 24, described as a “substitute mother.” Hiroyuki explained, “The doll has fur, making it easy to hold, and its appearance resembles a monkey, which might have been reassuring.” From that moment, the stuffed orangutan became Punch’s constant companion. He slept with it at night, gripped it tightly when nervous, and even carried it around the enclosure. The sight was so moving that Ichikawa City Zoo decided to share Punch’s story and photos on their official X (formerly Twitter) account in early February 2026, asking visitors to “Please watch over Punch’s growth with warm support.” The response was overwhelming. The hashtag #HangInTherePunch shot up the trending charts, with tens of thousands of posts in just days. Videos and photos of Punch snuggling his plush toy, or being gently rebuffed by older monkeys, spread across the globe, resonating with millions who saw in him a universal need for comfort and belonging. The outpouring of emotion wasn’t limited to social media. As Chosun and Mainichi Shimbun reported, the zoo’s visitor numbers doubled, with lines of fans—some moved to tears—waiting to catch a glimpse of the now-famous baby monkey. Many visitors uploaded their own photos and videos, further fueling Punch’s rise as the zoo’s unofficial mascot. The emotional pull was so strong that even celebrities took notice; on the February 18, 2026 episode of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert quipped, “After his mom abandoned him—she said she was going out for a pack of bananas, I’m sure she’ll be back—Punch struggled to make friends with other monkeys in the exhibit, which is why they gave him the stuffed orangutan, and now he takes it everywhere.” Colbert even bought a DJUNGELSKOG for himself, joking, “You’ll never leave me right, DJUNGELSKOG?” The story’s reach extended beyond the digital and television world. IKEA Japan, recognizing the viral power of Punch and the comfort their plush provided, donated 33 orangutan dolls and seven storage items to the zoo on February 17, 2026. According to Asahi Shimbun, the zoo plans to use these donations in children’s experience spaces and nursing rooms, hoping to spread the sense of security Punch found to young visitors. An IKEA Japan representative said, “We are pleased that IKEA’s dolls are supporting Punch’s daily life. We hope for the day when Punch will fully integrate with the other monkeys and no longer need the doll.” Behind the scenes, the zoo’s staff worked tirelessly to help Punch adapt. Rather than isolating him, they immersed him in the sights and sounds of the monkey troop, aiming for a gradual reintegration. On January 19, 2026, Punch was reintroduced to the monkey mountain enclosure, home to dozens of macaques. The transition was bumpy. Initially, the other monkeys were wary, sometimes intimidating the young newcomer. Punch, in turn, clung even tighter to his plush companion. But resilience is often built in small, steady steps. Over the weeks, Punch began to interact more with his peers. As Mainichi Shimbun detailed, he started to embrace and groom other monkeys, even after being scolded by the elders—an important milestone in macaque socialization. By mid-February 2026, Punch had grown to about two kilograms and was observed alternating between cautious exploration and moments of retreat with his stuffed orangutan. Caregivers continued to provide supplemental feeding, but their ultimate goal, as Shikano and Miyakoshi explained, was to see Punch thrive independently among his troop. The sight of Punch sleeping peacefully, tightly hugging his orangutan plush, has become an enduring image for many. It’s easy to see why. Scientists have long noted that transitional objects—blankets, toys, or other familiar items—help young mammals manage stress and adapt to new environments. Punch’s journey, as Mashable and Mainichi Shimbun pointed out, is a testament to this universal truth: whether monkey or human, the need for warmth, reassurance, and connection is deeply ingrained. As Punch’s story continues to unfold, he remains both a symbol of vulnerability and resilience. The zoo’s plea to “watch over Punch’s growth with warm support” has been answered by a global chorus, united by empathy for a small monkey and his plush friend. For visitors and online fans alike, Punch’s quiet determination in the face of adversity feels both heartbreaking and hopeful—a gentle reminder that, sometimes, the smallest gestures of comfort can bridge the gap between loneliness and belonging. Though Punch still relies on his orangutan doll, there’s optimism that, with time, he’ll fully join his troop. Until then, the world watches, cheers, and perhaps, hugs their own DJUNGELSKOGs a little tighter.