Orphaned Baby Monkey Punch, Who Clung to a Stuffed Toy for Comfort, Finally Accepted by His Troop

An abandoned baby monkey who captured millions of hearts by clinging to a stuffed orangutan toy is getting the happiest update imaginable: his troop is finally accepting him. Punch is being groomed, played with, and embraced by the other monkeys — he belongs.

A Rough Start

Punch, a Japanese macaque, was born at Ichikawa City Zoo in July 2025. But his start in life was heartbreaking — his biological mother rejected him shortly after birth, leaving the tiny monkey vulnerable and alone.

To comfort the orphaned infant, zookeepers gave him a soft stuffed orangutan toy. Punch immediately latched on, carrying the plush toy — which he calls "Ora-mama" — everywhere he went. The image of a tiny monkey dragging a stuffed animal bigger than himself became one of the most shared videos of 2026.

#KeepGoingPunch Goes Global

Videos of Punch dragging and cuddling his stuffed companion went massively viral in February 2026. The hashtag #KeepGoingPunch trended worldwide as people across the globe rallied behind the little macaque. Even IKEA Japan got involved, donating more stuffed animals to the zoo after fans discovered Punch's beloved toy was their Djungelskog orangutan plush.

But then came a moment that worried fans: a video showed an adult monkey dragging Punch across the enclosure. The internet held its breath.

The Happy Update

The zoo quickly explained that what viewers saw was normal primate socialization — the adult was disciplining Punch as part of integrating him into the troop. And it's working.

In the latest updates, Punch is showing incredible progress:

• Being groomed by other monkeys — a crucial sign of trust and acceptance in primate behavior
• Playing with peers and climbing onto their backs with growing confidence
• Embraced by an older monkey in a moment that showcased his growing sense of belonging

"He's actively engaging with other monkeys, and I can feel he's growing up. Even when scolded, he quickly recovers," said caretaker Shumpei Miyakoshi.

From Toy Mother to Real Family

The zoo's message to Punch's global fanbase: "When you observe these disciplinary behaviors from other troop members toward Punch, we would like you to support Punch's efforts, rather than feel sorry for him."

Punch still carries Ora-mama around from time to time. But increasingly, he doesn't need to. He has something the stuffed toy could never provide: real family.