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 that doesn’t part with its favorite plush orangutan toy.
Punch was born in July 2025 at the Ichikawa City Zoo. It was abandoned by its mother, and the zoo caretakers raised the infant. 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 to gradually get 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 say they can’t look at these images indifferently and many admit that they want to hug the little animal.
