Punch the monkey: World goes bananas for lonely baby macaque monkey and his IKEA plushie

His troop might not accept him, but a lonely baby monkey named Punch has won the hearts of humans across the globe — and sent sales of his comfort toy orangutan bananas and tourists flooding to a small zoo in Japan to see him.

Abandoned by his mother after he was born in July, Punch was initially hand-raised by zookeepers before being introduced to the other macaques at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo and Botanical Garden in January.

But the transition has been far from smooth, with footage of the outcast primate’s struggles to be accepted by the rest of the troop in Monkey Mountain going viral on social media.

Last week, the zoo was forced to issue a statement regarding Punch’s welfare after a number of distressing videos showing the seven-month-old being “scolded” and then dragged screaming around the enclosure by an adult monkey, gaining millions of views.

After the incident, Punch could be seen running away to his comfort toy, an orangutan plushie.

The toy is a constant companion for Punch, who is often seen clutching it close and sleeping with it.

Why you shouldn’t feel sorry for Punch

The zoo said the dragging incident, believed to have happened during feeding time on February 19, happened after Punch approached another baby monkey who avoided him.

“The adult monkey that dragged Punch is probably the mother of the monkey with whom Punch tried to communicate. She probably felt that her baby was annoyed by Punch and got upset, expressing ‘don’t be mean’,” the zoo’s statement read.

The zoo said Punch had been scolded many times before and people should not feel sorry for him.

“While Punch is scolded, he shows resilience and mental strength.... We would like you to support Punch’s effort rather than feel sorry for him,” the zoo said in a statement.

Joan Silk, a professor of evolution at Arizona State University, said that without his mother to help him navigate the social world, Punch has an uphill battle.

But she told the Washington Post he still had a good shot at overcoming his lonely early life if the troop welcomed him, allowing him to sleep and sit near them, and grooming him.

She affirmed the approach taken by the zoo to let nature take its course. Dr Silk said, “I know the sort of human impulse is to intervene. (But) he’s got to live a monkey life.”

Zoo struggles to cope with Punch’s fame

As Punch’s plight gained global attention, the zoo has been overwhelmed by visitors desperate to see him and has been forced to institute strict new rules to deal with the flood of interest.

Visitors have been reminded about using their “manners” when visiting the zoo’s Monkey Mountain, with time allowed in the viewing area limited to just 10 minutes and people warned to be quiet.

The zoo has apologised for having to abruptly turn away people who had been waiting in long lines for admission after more than 6000 people flooded the small zoo on Sunday.

On Monday, the zoo posted an update on X, revealing a restricted zone had been set up on part of the perimeter of Monkey Mountain.

“This is to reduce stress for the monkeys. Everyone is watching over them very quietly. Thank you,” the post reads.

Punch has been seen in numerous videos clinging to the legs of zoo keepers and climbing onto their shoulders, including his favourite, Kosuke Shikano, as he distributes food within the monkey enclosure.

Shikano told local media that baby Japanese macaques immediately cling onto their mother’s body after birth to build muscle strength; they also get a sense of security holding on to something.

“However, because he had been abandoned, Punch had nothing,” he said.

Since the dragging incident, there have been some promising signs that Punch may finally be breaking the ice with the troop, with recent videos showing him being hugged and groomed by another monkey and sitting with adults.

Punch’s comfort orangutan sells out

Punch’s fame has gone global and even prompted sales of his comfort toy, a stuffed orangutan Djungelskog toy sold at Ikea, to sell out, including in Australia.

“Seeing our orangutan soft toy provide hugs, snuggles, and a sense of calm for Punch has deeply touched us,” Karin Blindh Pedersen, development leader at Children’s Ikea said.

It has touched many others around the world, too, with TikTok flooded with teary and angry videos on TikTok from people threatening to “kidnap” Punch from the zoo and rescue him from his bullies.