Abandoned Baby Monkey Melts Hearts After Bonding With Plush Toy

Punch, a six-month-old baby macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, Japan, has captured hearts online after finding comfort in an unlikely companion — an IKEA plush orangutan.

Born in July, Punch was rejected by his mother shortly after birth and has since been hand-reared and hand-fed by zookeepers.

According to the zoo, other monkeys in his enclosure were also hostile toward him, leaving Punch isolated when not under the watchful eye of staff. In an effort to provide comfort, zookeepers introduced a stuffed toy into his enclosure. Punch quickly bonded with the orange plush orangutan, curling up with it while sleeping and carrying it around during the day.

The toy, identified as IKEA’s DJUNGELSKOG orangutan, stands about 14 inches tall and is made from polyester with recycled fiber filling. Since videos of Punch cuddling the toy began circulating on social media, zoo attendance has increased significantly, with staff expressing surprise at the unexpected crowds.

In the wild, baby monkeys rejected by their mothers face slim chances of survival. Punch’s story, however, highlights the role of human care — and even a simple plush toy — in providing comfort and stability.