Fez — A six-month-old Japanese macaque named Punch has become one of the internet’s most beloved animal figures after videos showed him clinging to an orangutan plush toy while navigating life at a zoo near Tokyo.
Punch lives at Ichikawa City Zoo, where caretakers stepped in after his biological mother rejected him shortly after birth during a summer heatwave. The zoo confirmed that staff raised the young macaque before gradually reintegrating him into the troop on the facility’s “Monkey Mountain” enclosure.
A difficult start and a soft companion
Zoo officials explained that reintegration into a macaque group can be socially complex. Japanese macaques live in structured hierarchies, and young monkeys usually learn group dynamics through close contact with their mothers. Without that guidance, Punch initially struggled to connect with older troop members.
Short video clips shared on social media showed the young macaque cautiously approaching others, only to be brushed aside. In response, caretakers introduced a plush orangutan toy — identified as IKEA’s “Djungelskog” model — as both emotional support and enrichment.
The toy quickly became Punch’s constant companion. He has been filmed dragging it across the enclosure, cuddling it, and attempting to embrace it as though it were another monkey. The scenes, widely reposted across platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, have garnered tens of millions of views.
Viral fame beyond the zoo
Punch’s story has drawn international attention, including mentions on late-night television by Stephen Colbert. Viewers have flooded social media with fan art, tributes, and emotional messages, describing the young macaque as a symbol of perseverance.
IKEA reported a noticeable rise in sales of the Djungelskog plush in markets including Japan, the United States, and South Korea. The company’s Japanese branch also donated additional plush toys to the zoo, acknowledging the public affection surrounding Punch.
Responding to online concerns that the macaque appeared to be bullied by other monkeys, zoo representatives said that such interactions reflect natural social adjustment processes. They emphasized that Punch has demonstrated resilience and has begun forming bonds within the troop.
Recent footage shows him being groomed by another monkey — a key indicator of acceptance within macaque society — and playing with peers closer to his age.
A broader resonance
While Punch’s appeal rests partly on his small size and expressive behavior, his story has resonated on a deeper level. Viewers have interpreted his repeated attempts to connect, plush toy in tow, as a reflection of persistence in the face of rejection.
As his gradual integration continues at Ichikawa City Zoo, Punch’s journey underscores a universal narrative: adaptation can be slow and uneven, but support — even in the form of a stuffed companion — can make the process gentler. In an era shaped by fast-moving digital trends, the young macaque’s quiet determination has offered millions a moment of shared empathy.
