Baby monkey Punch clings to toy instead of mom, and world can’t stop crying
The story of baby monkey Pancha touched the whole world (Photo: Getty Images)
Little Punch became a social media star not for funny tricks but for his heartbreaking loneliness. The orphaned baby monkey found comfort in the arms of a plush toy, which became his only source of warmth and safety.
RBC-Ukraine tells the story that has touched millions of people around the world: how a toy replaced the monkey’s mother, and whether there is hope that Punch will finally be accepted by his own kind.
Day Punch almost didn’t survive
He weighs less than a cat, has big, sad eyes, and can make anyone fall in love with him in seconds. Baby Punch is not just an exotic animal, but a symbol of great love, patience, and a miracle that happened in the heart of a modern metropolis.
Punch was born on July 26, 2025, at Ichikawa City Zoo, and the very next day, he was left alone. His mother rejected him — possibly because it was her first offspring, or due to exhaustion from the summer heat.
A zoo visitor noticed that something was wrong and immediately alerted the caretakers — who intervened right away. The baby was fed from a bottle and hand-reared.
Baby Punch was abandoned by his mother immediately after birth (Photo: instagram.com/punchmonkeyoficial)
Toy that became his “mom”
Japanese macaques cling to their mother from birth — this helps them build strength and feel secure. Punch urgently needed a replacement.
Caretakers tried different options — towels, other toys — but Punch chose his mom himself: a plush orange orangutan from IKEA. From that moment on, they were inseparable.
Punch found himself a new “mom” (Photo: Getty Images)
The toy was even nicknamed “Ora-Mom.” Punch carried it on his back, hugged it while sleeping, and kept it close during all his little adventures in the enclosure.
In the evenings, when the zoo staff went home and all the other animals were settling down to sleep, Punch would snuggle up to his plush mom to stay warm and drift off.
Viral fame and support from around the world
When the zoo shared his story on social media, the videos instantly went viral, gathering millions of views.
The hashtag #HangInTherePunch appeared online. Even IKEA responded — posting photos of the very same orangutan plush toy on its accounts worldwide. The mayor of Ichikawa personally announced that the company would gift Punch several spare toys.
The whole world began following baby Punch’s story (instagram.com/punchmonkeyoficial)
Toughest challenge: other monkeys
As little Punch grew, he was gradually introduced to the large enclosure so he could get used to it. His time there was increased slowly, allowing him to learn how to live in the bigger space.
On January 19, 2026, Punch was let into the troop for the first time — about 60 monkeys on Monkey Mountain. But the social skills of the baby, raised by humans, were far from perfect.
Videos showing other monkeys pushing Punch away broke the hearts of millions of viewers. People online wrote that they were ready to fly to Japan to protect him from the mean monkeys. Some were even willing to pay money to rescue Punch and take him home.
Punch’s small victories
Punch now weighs 2 kilograms, and although he is still hand-fed, he has become a member of the large troop on Monkey Mountain.
On February 6, the zoo shared an update: “Punch is gradually deepening his interactions with the troop of monkeys. He’s getting groomed, playfully poking at others, getting scolded, and having all sorts of experiences every day, steadily learning how to live as a monkey within the troop.”
Punch has grown and was introduced to the other monkeys (Photo: instagram.com/punchmonkeyoficial)
Every post about baby Punch’s life gathers thousands of positive comments. People celebrate his small victories as if they were their own.
As caretaker Shumpei Myakoshi explained, Punch is very strong mentally. He quickly forgets any grudges and keeps trying to find common ground with his fellow monkeys.
To see Punch, visitors began coming to the zoo even from other countries (Photo: Getty Images)
Queues at the zoo and a new attendance record
By mid-February, Ichikawa City Zoo was experiencing unprecedented lines at the entrance. The administration even apologized to visitors for the long wait. Little Punch turned the small local zoo into a pilgrimage site for tourists from all over Japan — and beyond.
Punch still never parts from his plush mom (Photo: instagram.com/punchmonkeyoficial)
How Punch is doing now
As of today, Punch continues integrating into the troop. One of the monkeys has already started grooming him and looking for fleas — a clear sign of acceptance in the monkey world.
There are now clips showing Punch being hugged and welcomed into the larger troop. His plush orangutan is still nearby, but Punch is increasingly venturing away from it, exploring the world on his own.
The zoo has asked visitors to watch Punch’s growth with warm support. And the whole world is doing exactly that. Because his story is more than just the story of a baby monkey — it’s a reminder that even the loneliest creature can find its troop. You just have to believe it.
