Punch the Monkey Was Alone and Bullied. Now the Internet Is Rallying Behind Him
A baby snow monkey abandoned by his mother at a Japanese zoo clung to a stuffed IKEA orangutan for comfort — and the story has since drawn massive crowds, viral support, and even a donation from IKEA itself.
KEY FACTS:
- Punch (real name Panchi-kun), a Japanese macaque, was born at Ichikawa City Zoo on July 26 and abandoned by his mother shortly after birth.
- Zookeepers hand-reared the baby monkey, eventually giving him a stuffed orange IKEA orangutan after rolled-up towels and other stuffed animals failed as substitutes.
- A video of Punch being bullied by other monkeys went viral, sparking the hashtag がんばれパンチ (“HangInTherePunch”) on X.
- IKEA Japan’s president donated a “huge number” of similar stuffed animals to the zoo in Punch’s honor.
- Punch is now gradually integrating with his troop, and his zookeeper believes he will eventually no longer need the stuffed toy.
Why the Stuffed Orangutan Worked
Japanese baby macaques typically cling to their mothers to build muscle strength and for a sense of security. Without a mother, Punch needed something to fill that role.
“This stuffed animal has relatively long hair and several easy places to hold,” zookeeper Kosuke Shikano told Reuters on Feb. 20. “We thought that its resemblance to a monkey might help Punch integrate back into the troop later on, and that’s why we chose it.”
The choice was deliberate — zookeepers wanted something that could serve as a bridge to eventually help Punch rejoin the other monkeys.
Viral Fame and Unprecedented Crowds
Videos of Punch clinging to his stuffed companion spread rapidly online. The emotional turning point came when footage showed the baby monkey being bullied by other monkeys in the troop, prompting a global wave of support.
Some fans even traveled to Ichikawa City Zoo to see Punch in person. The response caught staff off guard.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all visitors who came to the park today,” the zoo wrote in a post on X. “The staff is greatly surprised by the unprecedented and unexpected crowds we experienced.”
Punch Is Making Progress
Punch is now building his connections with the other monkeys in his troop.
“Punch is gradually deepening his interactions with the troop of monkeys!” the zoo wrote on X. “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!”
Shikano expressed optimism: “I think there will come a day when he no longer needs his stuffed toy,” he told Reuters.
IKEA Responds
On Feb. 17, Ichikawa City Mayor Ko Tanaka announced on X that Petra Fare, president and chief sustainability officer of IKEA Japan, donated a “huge number” of similar stuffed animals to the zoo in honor of Punch.
IKEA USA’s official Instagram account also joined in. “We’re ALL Punch’s family now,” the company wrote alongside a photo of the stuffed animal. “Sometimes, family is who we find along the way,” IKEA added in the photo.
As one X user put it, Punch is “proof that even in the toughest starts, love (and a good cuddle buddy) wins.”
BOTTOM LINE: Punch is steadily learning to live among his troop at Ichikawa City Zoo, and his zookeeper believes the day will come when the baby monkey no longer needs his stuffed companion.
Production of this article included the use of AI. It was reviewed and edited by a team of content specialists.
