This orangutan toy from IKEA is going viral after Punch, the baby macaque, was seen carrying one for comfort.
- Punch is a baby monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. Abandoned at birth, Punch has gone viral for the wholesome relationship he has with a stuffed orangutan.
- The stuffed animal appears to be one sold at IKEA, which has already sold out online, as of Feb. 25.
- Last weekend, the zoo welcomed more than 5,000 guests in one day, all eager to see Punch in person.
- Ichikawa City Zoo encourages Punch fans to be mindful of unofficial fundraisers they may see for the zoo or monkey online.
Punch, a baby macaque monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan (about 20 miles east of Tokyo), has gone viral for his sweet demeanor. Abandoned by his mother at birth, the baby monkey has been raised by zoo staff. Early on, Punch was given a stuffed orangutan to help him cope with loneliness, and now, countless photos and videos of Punch cuddling with the toy have garnered millions of views on social media.
Last week, a video of Punch being dragged around by another adult monkey in his habitat went viral, breaking the hearts of Punch fans. Despite the interaction, though, the zoo has reported in several social media posts that Punch is acclimating well to the other monkeys he lives alongside.
In an X post on Feb. 23, Ichikawa City Zoo said Punch was observed playing with other baby monkeys and eating on his own, no longer requiring a caretaker’s assistance.
“He’s continuing to do well!” the post stated.
Who is Punch the monkey?
Punch is a baby macaque monkey, born at the Ichikawa City Zoo on July 26. “As soon as he was born,” Punch was abandoned by his mother, according to a translation of the zoo’s website.
Macaque monkeys, also known as Japanese snow monkeys, have the widest geographical range of any primate, according to the Asia for Animals Coalition. They can be heard across Asia, from Afghanistan up to Japan and down to Indonesia and India.
A notable trait among all macaques, though, is their dependency on their mothers, the Asia for Animals Coalition website states. Like many primates, macaques cling to their mother as they climb, forage, and eat for months. Even once they have learned to run, play and eat on their own, macaque babies continue to be emotionally dependent for years, making Punch’s upbringing particularly unique and difficult.
Zoo braces for impact
Relatively speaking, the Ichikawa City Zoo is a small institution, home to about 44 different types of mammals, birds and reptiles, according to the zoo’s website. For comparison, the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, the largest zoo in the United States, has about 250 different species.
During Japan’s three-day weekend celebrating the Emperor’s Birthday, the zoo experienced a steady influx of guests. On Monday, Feb. 23, the zoo shared on X that about 5,200 people visited the zoo in a single day. The sheer number of visitors prompted the zoo to enforce admission restrictions on the afternoon of Feb. 23 and close on Tuesday, Feb. 24, according to X posts made by the institution.
“There were many shortcomings in the management, (but) our customers, staff and everyone who supports us online … I would like to thank everyone. Thank you so much!!” a translated post from the zoo about the holiday weekend stated.
Zoo encourages animal lovers to be wary of monetary scams
In an X post shared on Feb. 24, the Ichikawa City Zoo said that it would announce a way for visitors and fans to make official donations in the coming days, encouraging folks to be mindful of fundraisers they may see online.
“Please note, the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden does not officially recognize any ongoing activities supporting our zoo or Punch other than those announced on this site,” the post stated. “We will not be held accountable for any issues that may arise.”
Stuffed orangutans fly off IKEA shelves
Following Punch’s virality, IKEA Japan donated dozens of stuffed animals to the zoo, including the retailer’s Djungelskog, which appears to be the same stuffed orangutan Punch has.
Punch fans quickly turned to the Scandinavian retailer, whether in person or online, to get their hands on their own Djungelskog over the weekend. As of Feb. 25, the stuffed animal was sold out on the IKEA website. USA TODAY contacted IKEA for details about the stuffed animal’s swift sales but has not received a response.
Naturally, Djungelskog plushies have made their way to third-party resale sites like eBay, with listings asking between $19 and $130, as of Feb. 25.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
