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Liz Calvario
Editor/Reporter
The story of an abandoned 6-month-old monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan has made the internet emotional.
Zookeepers have been taking care of the sweet Japanese macaque ever since he was left by his mother, the zoo wrote earlier this month on X in Japanese and translated to English.
But what has captivated fans worldwide is little Punch’s attachment to his small orangutan plush toy that he carries and cuddles for comfort.
Born July 2025 and named Panchi-kun, or Punch in English, is the baby macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan who has gone viral for having an emotional support orangutan plush toy.
Social media users have shared videos of the young monkey carrying around his toy as zookeepers help him acclimate to his new home and the other macaques around him.
Seemingly an outcast, fans started to become even more attached to Punch and his story as videos of him being bullied circulated online. Posts were also shared of Punch looking defeated with his plush toy next to him.
As more clips became available online, fans rejoiced when it appeared that Punch finally found some friends and was even groomed by another monkey.
By Feb. 6, Punch had gradually made connections and interactions with the troop of monkeys, the zoo shared on X.
The zoo then noted on Feb. 12 that as the days went by, Punch had been interacting with more macaques, yet, per the translation on X, “there are still times when he gets scolded, but while learning the rules of the group.”
The zoo has also seen an increase in visitors, according to a post on X that included a photo of Punch with his stuffed toy and a long line of people at the zoo’s entrance.
The Ichikawa Zoo did not immediately respond to TODAY.com and NBC News’ request for comment.
Amid rise in Punch’s popularity, the hashtag #HangInTherePunch has gone viral, as well.
Ikea has even expressed their adoration by posting a photo of the orangutan plush toy, or what the company calls “Punch’s comfort orangutan,” that is available at their store. Various Ikea’s Instagram accounts from other countries, like Chile and Japan, have also shared similar posts.
People in the comments section expressed their emotions.
“We’re ALL Punch’s family now,” the caption reads, with a monkey and crying face emoji, along with the hashtag.
The photo also reads, “Sometimes, family is who we find along the way.”
Comments on the post include crying emoji, along with people writing, “We’re not okay,” “PUNCH is uniting the world,” “3 days in a row crying over Punch” and “omg!”
The company also confirmed to TODAY.com that after learning about Punch’s story, their Ikea Japan team got in touch with the zoo to understand how to support them in the best way. On Feb. 17, the company donated several soft toys — including additional orangutans — along with storage items, to further support Punch and to be used in areas for children visiting the zoo.
Ikea Japan CEO & CSO Petra Färe also visited the zoo that day to present the donation to the Mayor of Ichikawa City Ko Tanaka.
Liz Calvario is a Los Angeles-based reporter and editor for TODAY.com who covers entertainment, pop culture and trending news.
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