Ichikawa, Japan – A seven-month-old macaque monkey named Punch has become an unlikely internet sensation after forming a strong bond with a plush orangutan at the Ichikawa City Zoo. The infant monkey, rejected by his mother shortly after birth in July 2025, now carries the toy with him constantly, seeking comfort and security.
Zoo officials say Punch’s mother, a first-time mother, may have rejected him due to inexperience and unusually high temperatures at the time of his birth. “It occasionally happens in this species,” explained Takashi Yasunaga, a spokesperson for the zoo, to EFE news agency. After the rejection, zoo staff took over the responsibility of raising Punch, initially attempting to provide comfort with towels before discovering his preference for the orangutan plush.
Videos of Punch clinging to the toy have gone viral on social media, capturing the attention of animal lovers worldwide. According to The Fresh York Times, legions of fans are now following Punch’s daily life at the zoo. He is observed walking, eating, and sleeping with the plush toy, turning to it when feeling overwhelmed by his surroundings, though he remains integrated with the zoo’s other 56 macaques.
The zoo first presented Punch to the public via social media on February 5, 2026, quickly sparking the widespread attention he now receives. NTN24 reported that the initial video showing his mother rejecting him resonated deeply with viewers. The plush toy serves as a “mother substitute,” according to Yasunaga, fulfilling the natural instinct of young macaques to cling to a maternal figure for reassurance.
Thousands of visitors are now coming to the Ichikawa City Zoo each day specifically to observe Punch and his unusual companion. The zoo has not commented on any plans to alter Punch’s environment or separate him from the plush toy, and continues to monitor his social integration with the other monkeys.