A little monkey named Punch at a zoo in Japan became a real social media star over the weekend. Users were touched by photos and videos showing a six-month-old macaque clutching its favorite plush orangutan toy.
Punch was born in July 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo. The zoo caretakers raised the infant after it was abandoned by its mother. To help it feel calmer, Punch was given blankets and plush toys. The stuffed orangutan quickly became its closest companion.
In the shared videos and photos, Punch can be seen hugging the toy while sleeping, carrying it around and embracing it when other monkeys approach. The caretakers say that Punch feels safe this way.
Recently, Punch has begun gradually getting acquainted with other macaques. It is already taking its first steps toward interaction but still tries to keep its toy close.
Photos of it quickly spread across the internet and garnered thousands of reactions. Users said they could not look at these images without emotion, and many admitted that they wanted to hug the little animal.
