(Photography: Getty)
If there’s one thing everyone loves, it’s a happy ending. Life started out rough for little Japanese macaque known as Punch the Monkey. He was rejected by his mother shortly after he was born in July 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.
But in the last few days, there’s been the update we’ve all been waiting for. Punch is being accepted by his troop and is making friends!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Punch the Monkey was rejected by his mother
- After being introduced to a troop a month ago, he faced ‘bullying’ and was rejected once again
- Zoo keepers gave Punch an IKEA orangutang toy to help ease anxiety and loneliness
- This week, some adult and baby macaques began accepting him
- IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush toy is almost sold out worldwide
- We have alternatives to purchase
Why was Punch the Monkey rejected by his mother?
According to The Sun UK, Punch was rejected by his mother due to her inexperience and potential environmental stresses.
“In Punch’s case, their mother was a first-time mother, indicating inexperience,” Primatology expert, Alison Behie said. “Zookeepers also suggest Punch was born during a heatwave, which would be a high-stress environment. In environments where survival is threatened from outside stress, mothers may prioritise their own health and future reproduction rather than continue to care for an infant whose health may be compromised by those environmental conditions.”
What happened to Punch the Monkey after being rejected?
Last month, zoo staff moved Punch into the main enclosure with the rest of the troop, but sadly, they were far from welcoming.
Hearts around the world broke as videos of Punch being pushed, dragged across the floor, and swung around by adult macaques went viral.
While comments online call it ‘bullying’, experts say that isn’t necessarily the case. Behie said it’s actually ‘regular social interaction’.
Rejected by his own kind, Punch found comfort in an unexpected place…
DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush toy from IKEA
To ease his anxiety and loneliness in the early days, a zookeeper gave little Punch the soft toy. In videos, he can be seen running towards it for comfort, carrying it everywhere, lying with it and cuddling it tightly.
The plush toy has since sold out in almost every IKEA across the world, with fans desperately trying to get their hands on one.
But here’s the good news: on February 22, Punch was seen cuddling not his toy – but a member of his troop.
Punch the Monkey is making friends
After such a difficult start to life, Punch is beginning to be accepted by some of the other macaques. The zoo shared a video of Punch with an older monkey, who appeared to be giving him cuddles. There’s also footage of him picking bugs from the plush toys coat with another baby macaque.
Where to buy an IKEA Djungelskog plush toy
The orangutan plush toy retails at IKEA for $15 in Australia, or you can grab the mini version for $4.99 and it is almost sold out across the country. It is already sold out in the US, Singapore, South Korea, and of course, Japan – all because of Punch’s story.
While it’s in high demand, some have jumped online to try and sell their toy, with listings going as high as $150 in Australia.
Djungelskog plush toy alternatives
