Baby Monkey Punch Hugs Soft Toy After Mom Rejects Him: Video Goes Viral
A lonely baby monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo found comfort in a soft toy after his mother rejected him, and his emotional story has touched people worldwide.
A baby monkey named Punch is winning hearts across the world. He lives at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. Punch is a Japanese macaque, a species that many people also call a snow monkey.
Punch was born on 25 July 2025. Soon after his birth, his mother rejected him and did not take care of him. For baby monkeys, their mother is everything. They hold on to her body for warmth, safety and comfort. Without his mother’s care, Punch became lonely and stressed.
The zoo staff stepped in to save him. They bottle-fed him and looked after him like a parent. However, they understood that he needed emotional comfort also, not just milk and food. So they gave him a large soft toy — an orangutan plush toy from IKEA called Djungelskog.
Something very touching happened. Punch immediately started treating the soft toy like his mother. He hugged it tightly, carried it everywhere, and slept while holding it. Whenever he felt scared, he ran back to the toy and clung to it. Zoo workers said he held the toy especially during stressful moments, just like a baby monkey would hold its parent.
In early February 2026, the zoo shared videos of Punch with his toy. The clips quickly became viral on social media. People from different countries watched the videos and felt emotional. Many said the small monkey looked very lonely but also very brave. Some people even posted supportive messages for him online.
Later, the zoo introduced Punch to a large group of other macaques. Joining a monkey group is not easy. At first, some older monkeys ignored him or pushed him away. This behaviour is normal in macaque society, but it looked very sad. Whenever this happened, Punch would run back and hug his soft toy for comfort.
One video showed another monkey frightening Punch. He immediately grabbed his plush toy tightly. That moment touched many viewers and made them feel protective about him.
As the story spread, the zoo started receiving more visitors. Many people came specially to see the baby monkey and his famous soft toy. Local officials had to manage the growing crowds.
Punch’s toy also became popular. Many people wanted to buy the same orangutan soft toy. In some places, it was sold out quickly. After seeing the attention, IKEA donated more soft toys to the zoo so that Punch and other animals could use them if needed.
Now the story is becoming more hopeful. Slowly, Punch is adjusting to life with other monkeys. Recent videos show older macaques grooming him and allowing him to sit close. Grooming is a sign of trust and acceptance among monkeys. It means he is slowly becoming part of the group.
Punch’s story has touched people because it shows loneliness, comfort and healing — feelings that humans understand very well. Seeing a baby animal feel safe with a soft toy is something many people can relate to. That is why people around the world are following his journey, as it feels like watching a lonely child slowly finding a family.
