Who Is Punch the Monkey? The Full Story So Far!

For a few weeks in early 2026, the most famous monkey in the world was a tiny macaque dragging an orange stuffed toy around a zoo in Japan.

Videos of Punch being pushed around by older monkeys, then running back to his plushie for comfort, spread around the world.

Now he’s the one doing the comforting. Here’s Punch’s full story so far.

Who Is Punch the Monkey?

Punch, also called Punch-kun, is a Japanese macaque, sometimes known as a snow monkey. He was born on July 26, 2025, at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, a small zoo a little over an hour by train from central Tokyo.

Why Did His Mother Reject Him?

Punch’s mother abandoned him shortly after he was born. News reports said this was presumably because of exhaustion, and zookeepers have suggested a heat wave may have played a part. Keepers began bottle-feeding him the next day and raised him by hand.

Why Does He Have an Orangutan Toy?

Baby macaques spend their first weeks clinging tightly to their mothers’ fur. Without a mother, Punch needed something to hold on to, so keepers gave him a large stuffed orangutan, an IKEA Djungelskog toy, to help him practice clinging.

One of his keepers explained the choice: the toy “has relatively long hair and several easy places to hold,” and they hoped its resemblance to a monkey might help Punch fit back into the troop later on.

It became his constant companion. Fans nicknamed it “Oran-Mama.”

How Punch Went Viral

In January 2026, keepers moved Punch into the zoo’s Monkey Mountain enclosure with around 60 other macaques. On February 5, the zoo posted his backstory online, and it spread overnight.

Clips showed Punch being pushed away and scolded by older monkeys, then retreating to his plushie. Within weeks, there were long queues outside the zoo. IKEA representatives visited and donated 33 stuffed toys, BLACKPINK’s Lisa came to see him in March, and Google added a special animation to searches for his name.

Fitting In

Life in the troop got easier. By late February, keepers reported Punch playing with other young monkeys and eating with the group on his own. In early March, he was seen getting hugs and being groomed by adults, and he was clinging to his toy less often.

His fame brought scrutiny too. Visitors raised concerns about hair loss in some of the troop, which the zoo said was likely caused by excessive grooming. PETA called for Punch to be moved to a reputable sanctuary. The zoo also introduced rules asking visitors to stay quiet and limiting viewing time to reduce stress on the monkeys.

The Enclosure Break-In

On May 17, 2026, a person in a costume jumped into the macaque enclosure while another man filmed from outside. The monkeys fled to the top of their rock structure, and a zoo worker removed the intruder. Police later took two men into custody. The zoo said all the monkeys were safe and added extra patrols and nets.

November 2026: Punch Cares for a Baby

On November 8, 2026, the zoo shared a video of Punch hugging a baby monkey in his troop and grooming its head and neck. For a monkey who once had no one to cling to, it was a moment many fans called the perfect ending, though at just over a year old, Punch’s story is far from over.

Grooming is one of the main ways macaques build friendships and keep the peace, so it’s a strong sign that Punch is now part of the group. Monkeys’ emotional lives can be surprisingly deep. In one of the most-watched wildlife videos on YouTube, a troop of langurs gathers around what they seem to think is a dead baby.

About Japanese Macaques

Japanese macaques live farther north than any other primate apart from humans, and can cope with temperatures as low as -4°F (-20°C). Some troops famously soak in hot springs in winter, which studies link to lower stress.

They’re also clever. On Koshima Island, a young female named Imo began washing sweet potatoes in water, and the habit spread through her troop for generations. Japanese macaques can live up to about 32 years for females and 28 for males.

You can watch a wild troop live on Awaji Island, via one of the cams in our 7 cameras on 7 continents roundup.

Can You Visit Punch?

Yes. Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture. The zoo has asked visitors to keep their voices down and limit how long they watch, to protect Punch and the rest of the troop. Check the zoo’s website for current rules before you go.

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