If you’re wondering if your HEART has survived to this point in 2026, this is a sure-fire test: Punch the Monkey, and his monkey stuffie.
Punch is a baby macaque (pronounced muh-kack) at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, and he’s gone super viral over the past week, for dragging a stuffed orangutan around his enclosure.
That’s cute, but it’s also sad. The zoo’s website says Punch was abandoned by his mother at birth, and was raised by zoo staff. The stuffed animal was given to Punch to help him cope with loneliness. (Here’s a photo.)
～お知らせ～
現在、サル山の中にぬいぐるみを持った子ザルがいます。
2025年7月26日に生まれ、放置されていたところから人工哺育で育ち、今年の1月19日から群れで過ごしています。
名前は「パンチ」という男の子です！
パンチの成長を暖かく見守ってください！#市川市動植物園 #ニホンザル#パンチ pic.twitter.com/jNpFSH0LOV— 市川市動植物園（公式） (@ichikawa_zoo) February 5, 2026
That’s not all. There are videos where Punch appears to try to interact with other baby monkeys, and in one, an older monkey, possibly the other baby’s mother, grapples with Punch, and chases him away, maybe because she thought her baby was annoyed by Punch.
Some observers got emotional over that, but the zoo says it’s GOOD that Punch shows resilience and mental strength. They add, “We’d like you to support Punch’s efforts, rather than feel sorry for him.”
Also: Punch’s beloved stuffed orangutan appears to be from IKEA. It’s the “Djungelskog,” which is available for $20 in stores and on the IKEA website.
Last week, the president of IKEA Japan visited the zoo to donate a bundle of stuffed animals for Punch and other animals at the facility, to make sure they are never without a monkey stuffie. (It’s even inspiring an ad campaign.)
Over the weekend, the zoo said that Punch is making progress, and is steadily fitting into the group.
(Here’s video of Punch, and another.)
(USA Today / Reuters / People)
