Punch monkey clips from Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo have drawn global attention after a hand-reared baby Japanese macaque named Punch, also called Punch-kun, went viral while clinging to a stuffed orangutan. Born in July 2025, Punch was rejected shortly after birth, prompting zoo staff to intervene and bottle-feed him while providing soft blankets and toys to reduce distress.
The stuffed orangutan became his comfort object, with a zoo representative, Mr. Shikano, describing it as a surrogate mother. In mid-February 2026, punch monkey videos and photos spread rapidly online, showing Punch carrying the toy around his enclosure, sleeping while holding it and returning to it when overwhelmed.
Zoo updates dated February 6 and February 12 were cited as timeline markers for Punch’s gradual troop integration after he was introduced to other macaques in mid-January. The reporting says interactions improved in steps, but new viral footage also showed Punch being dragged or bullied by larger monkeys, reigniting questions about whether he should be separated for safety. The zoo says it has a conservation and education role and that staff are continuing to monitor Punch while providing enrichment and guided socialization.
