@aiwaysrg: Punch Zoo Japan Monkey Punch viral star’s IKEA plush toy Viral monkey Punch rejected by mother given stuffed orangutan An abandoned baby monkey who broke millions of hearts online, after being spotted hugging an orangutan stuffed toy given to him as a substitute for his mother, has finally found comfort among his own kind. Punch, a young Japanese macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, went viral after videos showed him dragging around and playing with a soft toy that zookeepers gave him. During the first few months of his life, he struggled to bond with the other monkeys in his zoo's enclosure and had only the company of his human keepers and the stuffed toy to rely on. But recent videos show he's turning things around. He was given a hug by one monkey and was seen grooming others, a key part of macaque socialisation. #punchzoojapan #plushtoys #hangintherepunch #animal #zoo Dozens of fans have flocked to a Japanese zoo to catch a glimpse of a baby macaque who shot to social media stardom months after being abandoned by his mother. Six-month-old Punch became an internet sensation after footage of him clinging forlornly to zookeepers and dragging around a stuffed orangutan toy was widely shared on X. Punch's mother, perhaps due to it being her first litter or reduced stamina from the summer heat, showed no interest in caring for her young, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported. Japanese baby macaques cling to their mothers to feel safe and to build up their muscles. The zoo looked for an alternative, such as a towel or different soft toy, but Punch chose the long-legged orangutan. "It was easy for him to grab," a zookeeper told Fuji TV. "Maybe he also liked (that) it looked like a monkey." Punch's predicament sparked sympathy online, spawning a devoted fanbase who began posting updates on the monkey under the hashtag. The baby monkey was raised in an artificial environment after being born in July, and began training to rejoin his troop last month. His situation began looking up this month when zookeepers at Ichikawa City Zoo, near Tokyo, posted that he was gradually integrating, including "playfully poking others and getting scolded". A beloved baby monkey who captured hearts worldwide for clinging to a stuffed toy is back in the spotlight — this time after a viral clip showed him being pulled by members of his troop. Punch-kun, the orphaned Japanese macaque living at Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Japan, recently appeared in a widely shared video posted on X that showed an adult monkey dragging him across the ground. The clip, which has garnered more than 1.2 million views, prompted concern among fans who have followed Punch’s journey since he went viral last year. After the footage circulated online, the zoo issued a detailed statement on Feb. 20 explaining what caretakers say actually occurred — and reassuring viewers about Punch’s well-being. According to zookeepers, the moment began when Punch approached another infant monkey in an attempt to interact. When the baby avoided him, Punch sat down nearby. An adult female — believed to be the other infant’s mother — then intervened. Punch, a baby macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, went viral earlier in the week for dragging a stuffed orangutan around his enclosure. The baby monkey was abandoned by his mother at birth, the zoo's website says, and was raised by zoo staff. The stuffed animal was given to Punch to help him cope with loneliness. Social media users have poured an abundance of love on Punch the past few days, but a new video posted on Thursday, Feb. 19 has animal lovers in distress. In the video, Punch is approached by a larger monkey that drags him on the ground in several circles before Punch is able to run to a corner of the habitat to take shelter with his stuffed orangutan. As the two monkeys scream out, a collective gasp can be heard from onlookers. Punch Zoo Japan Punch Zoo Japan Punch Zoo Japan Punch Zoo Japan Punch Zoo Japan

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Sunday 22 February 2026 02:24:10 GMT