Rejected Baby Monkey Punch-kun Goes Viral With Stuffed Orangutan at Japan Zoo

Meet Punch-kun

In Ichikawa, just outside Tokyo, a baby monkey named Punch-kun has quietly become one of the internet’s most talked-about animals. Born on July 26, 2025, the young Japanese macaque was rejected by his mother and raised by zoo staff through hand-rearing. According to Ichikawa City Zoo, he has been living with the troop since January 19.

As he continues adjusting to life among the other monkeys, Punch-kun has been seen carrying a small orange stuffed orangutan throughout the enclosure. The zoo has indicated that the toy serves as a source of comfort as he navigates social reintegration within the troop.

Photos and videos shared by the zoo show him dragging the plush behind him, resting beside it, and holding it close while he sleeps. Even as he gradually deepens his interactions with the other monkeys, the stuffed orangutan remains part of his daily routine.

Photo: Courtesy of Ichikawa City Zoo (@ichikawa_zoo via X)

Introducing Punch to the World

On February 5, Ichikawa City Zoo introduced Punch publicly on X:

"Currently, there is a baby monkey holding a stuffed toy inside Saruyama.
Born on July 26, 2025, it was rescued from being abandoned and raised through hand-rearing, and has been living with the troop since January 19 this year.
His name is Punch, a boy."

Screenshot: @ichikawa_zoo via X

The post ended with: "Please watch over Punch’s growth with warm support.” That simple request to watch over his growth quickly traveled far beyond the zoo’s usual audience.

A Country Cheering Him On

Soon after sharing his story, Ichikawa City Zoo returned to X to thank the growing community that had rallied around him, expressing gratitude for the kind messages and donations sent to support his care. What began as a simple update about a hand-raised baby macaque had quickly become something much larger, with people across Japan rooting for his steady progress.

By February 15, that encouragement was visible in person. The zoo posted another update thanking visitors for coming to see Punch-kun and acknowledging the unexpectedly large crowds. Staff wrote that they were surprised by the turnout and apologized for the longer wait times at the entrance gates, while preparing for continued interest in the days ahead.

Screenshot: @ichikawa_zoo via X

Visitors have since shared their own photos and videos of Punch-kun, many openly cheering him on. On X, users have written that all of Japan is rooting for him, posting messages of encouragement and solidarity as he learns his place within the troop. Those posts have only deepened the affection surrounding the small snow monkey and his stuffed companion.

Punch has gone viral for something rare and strangely beautiful. He was rejected at the start of his life, and now has been embraced by millions who simply wanted him to be okay.

Photo: Courtesy of Ichikawa City Zoo (@ichikawa_zoo via X)

Gradual Reintegration

The zoo has continued to share updates on Punch-kun’s progress, and one recent message offered real encouragement. In a post on X, staff wrote:

“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.”

It is a simple update, but an important one. Grooming, playful nudges, even being scolded are all part of macaque social life. Each small interaction signals that Punch-kun is not just observing the troop anymore, but participating in it.

Photo: Courtesy of Ichikawa City Zoo (@ichikawa_zoo via X)

Recent footage shows him being groomed and sitting closer to other macaques. The process appears steady and incremental, which is typical in social groups like this. The stuffed orangutan remains nearby, but so do the other monkeys.

Photo: Courtesy of Ichikawa City Zoo (@ichikawa_zoo via X)

The IKEA Visit That Felt Like a Full Circle Moment

Today, the story took another quietly joyful turn.

It was shared on X that Punch was visited by IKEA Japan’s president. During the visit, IKEA donated multiple replacement DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plushies, affectionately nicknamed “Oran Mama” by fans, to ensure Punch continues to have comfort as he gradually integrates with his troop.

A toy that began as a small act of care inside an enclosure has now become something larger, a symbol recognized well beyond the zoo.

Screenshot: @Complex via X

A Unifying Story

There is something universally felt about this story: a rejected baby animal finding comfort in something soft and familiar, a community of strangers rallying around him, and the slow, ordinary process of being accepted.

Punch-kun’s story is not dramatic or grand. It unfolds in small steps, in quiet grooming sessions and tentative proximity, and that might be precisely why so many people have felt compelled to follow it.

Ichikawa City Zoo has seen a noticeable increase in visitors since the story spread, and Punch-kun has become an unexpected ambassador for the power of simple care.

Photo: Courtesy of Ichikawa City Zoo (@ichikawa_zoo via X)

Whether your next trip takes you to Japan to see him in person, or simply to IKEA to pick up a small orange orangutan of your own, Punch-kun and his plush companion have already traveled much farther than anyone expected.

And for this week at least, that feels like enough.

FAQ: Punch-kun and Ichikawa City Zoo

Who is Punch-kun?

Punch-kun is a baby Japanese macaque, also known as a snow monkey, living at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

When was Punch-kun born?

He was born on July 26, 2025.

Why was Punch-kun hand-reared?

According to the zoo, he was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth and was raised by staff through hand-rearing.

Why does Punch-kun carry a stuffed orangutan?

The zoo has indicated that the stuffed orangutan serves as a source of comfort as he adjusts socially within the troop.

Is Punch-kun being accepted by the other monkeys?

The zoo has reported gradual progress, including grooming and increased interaction with other members of the troop.

Where is Ichikawa City Zoo located?

Ichikawa City Zoo is located in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, just outside Tokyo, Japan.