Feb. 23, 2026, 10:41 a.m. ET
Punch, a baby macaque in Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan, was abandoned by his mother. Zoo staff raised him with the help of a stuffed orangutan.
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Punch sits next to a stuffed orangutan at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon, REUTERS
Punch, a baby macaque in Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, was abandoned by his mother “as soon as he was born” on July 26, 2025, according to a translation of the zoo’s website. Zoo staff raised him in her absence with the help of a stuffed orangutan, which Punch carries with him.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
A viral baby Japanese macaque named Punch drags a stuffed orangutan at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon, REUTERS
This photo taken on February 19, 2026 shows a seven month-old male macaque monkey named Punch, who was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, sitting with a stuffed orangutan toy at Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Chiba Prefecture.
STR, JIJI PRESS/AFP Via Getty Images
Adorable Punch touches a stuffed orangutan in the enclosure at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon, REUTERS
Punch determinately carries around a stuffed toy at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon, REUTERS
Punch, a baby Japanese macaque, dutifully drags a stuffed orangutan that substitutes his mother at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon, REUTERS
Zookeeper Kosuke Shikano places a stuffed orangutan on the ground as baby Japanese macaque Punch clings to his leg at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon, REUTERS
Baby Punch clings to zookeeper Kosuke Shikano at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon, REUTERS
An abandoned monkey named Punch holds a branch next to a stuffed orangutan at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Baby monkey Punch went viral for dragging around and seeking comfort in a stuffed orangutan toy at Ichikawa City Zoo, Japan.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Punch, a baby monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, holds onto a stuffed orangutan after being dragged around his enclosure by another adult monkey in February 2026.
@tate_punch Via Storyful
Punch, a monkey that has gone viral for his comfort plushie, was seen being “scolded” by an older monkey, according to the zoo.
@tate_punch Via Storyful
This photo, taken on February 19, 2026, shows a baby macaque named Punch carrying around a stuffed toy.
STR, JIJI PRESS/AFP Via Getty Images