Punch-kun (Japanese: パンチくん, Hepburn: Panchi-kun; born July 26, 2025), or simply Punch, is a baby Japanese macaque, or snow monkey, at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. He gained viral attention on social media for his attachment to a large orangutan stuffed toy. According to zoo officials, Punch's internet popularity led to a surge in visitors to the zoo starting in February 2026. == Biography == Punch was born on July 25, 2025, at the Ichikawa City Zoo. He was named after Monkey Punch, the mangaka who authored Lupin the Third. Subsequently, he was abandoned by his mother, who lacked interest in raising him. The day after, he was artificially fed, drinking milk from a baby bottle, and two caretakers began hand-raising him. Punch was integrated with other macaques at the zoo's Monkey Mountain, with around 60 monkeys, on January 19, 2026. Due to the lack of a maternal figure, Punch initially struggled with socializing, showing "signs of anxiety and isolation". However, one keeper stated that despite occasional ostracizing by other macaques, Punch was "mentally strong". Takashi Yasunaga, head of Ichikawa's zoo and botanical gardens, called Punch-kun very outgoing. To aid in his socialization, zoo officials gave Punch an IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plushie, which he began clinging to and treating as a surrogate mother. == Reception == On February 5, 2026, the zoo made an online post about Punch's backstory, which became an overnight sensation. More images of Punch-kun with the orangutan plushie soon went viral in Japan and abroad, and the hashtag #がんばれパンチ, or #HangInTherePunch, began circulating online. Nicknames have also been given to the orangutan plushie itself, such as "Oran-Mama" or "Oran-Mother." "Huge lines" then began forming outside of the Ichikawa City Zoo, which zoo officials considered unprecedented, causing them to apologize for delays in entry. On February 17, IKEA representatives visited the Ichikawa City Zoo and donated 33 stuffed toys to Punch. == See also == Grape-kun List of individual monkeys == References == == External links == Follow Punch — Fan site tracking Punch-kun's story with timeline and video clips