Viral Baby Monkey ‘Punch’ Makes New Friends But Still Drags His IKEA Plushie Around

What has taken over the internet by storm and melted the hearts of millions worldwide is none other than a monkey. Yes, you read it right. A bullied baby monkey abandoned by its mother is currently garnering attention. Punch, a young Japanese macaque, resides at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. As a substitute for his mother, he was given an IKEA-brand orangutan stuffed toy by the zookeepers. Videos show him dragging around and playing with a soft toy, captivated netizens, and warmed their hearts. 

Initially, he struggled to get along 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. Other monkeys bullied him, but remember, every dark cloud has a silver lining. Dull days seem to have passed, and brighter days await. After months, the tables turned, and things weren’t as usual for the baby monkey Punch. Recently, one monkey was spotted giving him a hug and grooming others, a key part of macaque socialisation. 

Major Update on Viral Baby Monkey ‘Punch’ And IKEA Plushie 

A young, abandoned monkey named Punch went viral this month after he was filmed clinging to the stuffed toy that he had been given as a “surrogate mother.” Now, Punch is gradually building up his social skills. He’s been spotted climbing on another monkey’s back, and according… pic.twitter.com/2X7cb1QWMy — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 18, 2026

Just two days ago, Matt Lovatt, director of the UK’s Trentham Monkey Forest, had a word with the BBC about Punch’s behavior. “It’s been great to see him starting to groom, because that’s the key way these primates can start to build up friendships with the monkeys within their group“, stated Lovatt. 

Punch Monkey Japan is also inviting tourists. Japan’s tourism sector continues to benefit from social-media-driven travel buzz, and Punch appears to be the most apt example. After seeing viral clips, travelers have been visiting Punch to snatch a glimpse of him playing with his plushie. The tiny macaque clutches his cherished IKEA orangutan plushie and drags him everywhere. 

An Instagram user, Annie, who traveled two hours to visit Punch, shared a video of her trip to Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Gardens. She captioned her post by writing, “Some monkeys are still tough on him, but Punch doesn’t give up and has made some friends!” It is hence confirmed that baby Punch has made new friends, but still drags his orangutan plushie.