A tiny monkey grips an orange, bug-eyed orangutan toy and drags it across a zoo enclosure that looks far too big for him. When nerves hit, he presses his face into the plush and holds on tight. Punch, a baby Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo outside Tokyo, found comfort in something no wild macaque expects: an IKEA stuffed orangutan.
A Baby Left Behind in the July Heat
Punch entered the world around July 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture. His mother abandoned him soon after birth, and an onlooker spotted the problem and alerted keepers. Zookeepers moved fast because young macaques normally cling to their mothers for strength and security.
Zookeeper Kosuke Shikano and the team tried substitutes that could mimic a mother’s body. They tested rolled-up towels and other stuffed animals. Then they chose an orange orangutan plush sold by IKEA. Shikano said the toy’s long hair and easy-to-grab spots made it practical for a small monkey, and its monkey-like shape might help Punch reconnect with the troop later on.
Shikano also suggested another detail that made Punch’s start even sadder: he thought extreme heat in July may have played a role in the mother’s decision to abandon the baby.
The Toy That Follows Him Everywhere
Punch began carrying the orangutan through the enclosure and often dragged it even though it outweighed him. Reports described the enclosure as a must-see attraction because Punch and the plush stayed inseparable. Videos of the pair spread online and drew fans to the zoo.
One visitor said that social media posts about Punch, alone but still trying, moved her and prompted a visit. That reaction explains the frenzy: people do not just see a cute animal. They see a baby primate grabbing comfort the only way he can, right in front of a crowd.
Learning Troop Rules Can Look Harsh
Keepers started introducing Punch to the other Japanese macaques so he could learn group life. Punch sometimes met scolding or rejection when he tried to interact.
A widely shared clip showed an adult female monkey dragging Punch after he approached another infant. The zoo said the adult likely acted as the other infant’s mother and reacted because her baby seemed annoyed. Caretakers described the incident as a discipline that macaques commonly use in social groups.
The zoo also stressed a key point for worried viewers: Punch faces scolding, but no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him. Staff said Punch has experienced similar corrections before and keeps learning how to socialise.
What Punch Does After a Scare
The viral clip showed Punch running straight to his orangutan toy after the drag. Even so, the zoo said Punch usually leaves the toy again after a short while and returns to communicating with other monkeys. Staff also said he acted normally later that day, including during scheduled feedings.
Online commenters used words like “bullying” after seeing Punch get pushed around. Ichikawa City Zoo responded in a statement. The zoo said Punch shows strong resilience and recovers quickly, even when other monkeys give him the cold shoulder, and it urged supporters to cheer for his efforts rather than only feel sorry for him.
More recent footage showed another monkey grooming Punch, which reports described as a marker of social acceptance, and showed him playing with younger monkeys closer to his age.
The IKEA Plush That Sparked a Real-World Rush
Punch did not just go viral. His toy did too. It boosted sales of IKEA’s Djungelskog orangutan. IKEA said it saw a clear increase in sales in recent days, particularly in Japan, the United States, and South Korea. IKEA also donated dozens of plush toys to the zoo.
Punch still lives at Ichikawa City Zoo, and keepers still guide him through troop life step by step. Shikano predicted that Punch may not need the stuffed orangutan forever. For now, Punch keeps hauling an oversized orangutan across the enclosure, grabbing comfort when he needs it, and trying again with the troop.
Featured Image Credit: DRM News/YouTube
Published 14-March-2026
