Meet Punch, the baby monkey that went viral. See why.

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Published on

February 27, 2026

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#MeToo, Musings

Anastasiia Riddle

Feb. 23, 2026Updated Feb. 26, 2026, 4:55 p.m. ET

Punch, a baby macaque in Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan, was abandoned by his mother. Zoo staff raised him with the help of a stuffed orangutan .

Punch sits next to a stuffed orangutan at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

Punch, a baby macaque in Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, was abandoned by his mother "as soon as he was born" on July 26, 2025, according to a translation of the zoo's website. Zoo staff raised him in her absence with the help of a stuffed orangutan, which Punch carries with him.

A viral baby Japanese macaque named Punch drags a stuffed orangutan at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

This photo taken on February 19, 2026 shows a seven month-old male macaque monkey named Punch, who was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, sitting with a stuffed orangutan toy at Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Chiba Prefecture.

Adorable Punch touches a stuffed orangutan in the enclosure at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

Punch determinately carries around a stuffed toy at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

Punch, a baby Japanese macaque, dutifully drags a stuffed orangutan that substitutes his mother at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

Zookeeper Kosuke Shikano places a stuffed orangutan on the ground as baby Japanese macaque Punch clings to his leg at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

Baby Punch clings to zookeeper Kosuke Shikano at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

An abandoned monkey named Punch holds a branch next to a stuffed orangutan at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

Baby monkey Punch went viral for dragging around and seeking comfort in a stuffed orangutan toy at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.

Punch, a baby monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, holds onto a stuffed orangutan after being dragged around his enclosure by another adult monkey in February 2026.

Punch, a monkey that has gone viral for his comfort plushie, was seen being "scolded" by an older monkey, according to the zoo.

This photo, taken on February 19, 2026, shows a baby macaque named Punch carrying around a stuffed toy.

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