Heartwarming Video: Abandoned Baby Monkey ‘Punch’ Clings to Stuffed Toy in Japanese Zoo, Goes Viral Worldwide

Visitors flock to Japan’s Ichikawa Zoo this week to glimpse Punch, the seven-month-old Japanese macaque whose heartbreaking attachment to a plush orangutan toy has turned him into a global social-media sensation. Since videos of the orphaned infant being shunned by his troop went viral, daily attendance at the Chiba-prefecture attraction has nearly tripled, prompting the zoo to extend viewing hours and erect crowd-control barriers. According to caretakers, Punch’s saga began in August 2025, when his mother stopped nursing him and older males started to bully the defenseless youngster. Keepers intervened, placing him in a nursery where he latched onto a donated stuffed orangutan for comfort. Images of the pair sparked an outpouring of support, with #PunchTheMonkey topping TikTok’s animal-lover feeds and generating more than 120 million views overall. On 19 February 2026 the zoo cautiously reintroduced Punch to “Monkey Mountain,” a rocky island habitat visible to visitors. Although the troop’s alpha female initially bared her teeth, the youngster has since been observed grooming with peers under the watchful eye of keepers. “Short, supervised sessions are helping him learn normal macaque etiquette,” primatologist Dr. Hitomi Sasaki explained in a zoo press release. Animal-welfare experts say maternal rejection is not uncommon among Japanese macaques, especially first-time mothers facing resource stress. “In the wild, infants that fall behind rarely survive,” notes Prof. Charlotte Hawes of the University of Kyoto. “Zoos can mitigate that risk, but social reintegration is always the goal”. Meanwhile, tourism boards around Chiba are capitalizing on Punch-mania with plush-toy giveaways and limited-edition “Team Punch” rail passes. Local merchants report a 40 percent bump in weekend sales, mirroring the economic ripple seen during previous Japanese animal crazes such as Hachiko the dog and Tama the station cat. Ichikawa Zoo stresses that donations—already topping ¥18 million—are being funneled into expanded veterinary facilities and enrichment programs for the entire 130-strong macaque troop. Administrators also warn visitors to beware of online fund-raising scams exploiting Punch’s popularity. Key points for readers • Punch the baby macaque is now on limited public display after a successful soft reintroduction. • Viral videos of his bond with a stuffed orangutan have generated massive social-media engagement and a tourism boost. • Experts say gradual troop integration is critical to his long-term welfare, and the zoo is channeling donations into habitat upgrades.