The internet is getting emotional over a sweet Japanese macaque. In the digital space, things like this often hit the headlines because of the emotional story they carry. In this case as well, Punch the monkey’s story left people feeling for him, and people are not able to stop talking about the sweet one. A few days ago, a penguin video went viral, and now it’s the Japanese macaque and his orange plushie, who, in a way, mirrored relatable stuff, be it related to abandonment, being left out, which became a huge right-struck-at-right place moment, making it viral content.
Who is Punch the Monkey? Going viral on social media, carrying a huge orange plushie
On social media, a monkey, who has been named Punch the monkey, is going viral, wherein he can be seen carrying an orange-coloured plushie with him everywhere. The monkey was relatable to everyone, given to his need for company as he was seen clinging to the orange plushie. For those who don’t know, Punch the Monkey is named Panchi-Kum, and he was born in July 2025. The monkey, who stays at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, was abandoned by his mother when he was just 6 months old.
Reportedly, he initially was not getting along with the other ones in the zoo, leading him to feel left out. For his comfort, a huge orange toy was provided to him by the zoo. In the posts from X, shared by the Zoom Panchi-Kum, it was seen cuddling the plushie for comfort and carrying it around everywhere he goes. Such an emotional thing grabbed the attention on social media, and people are not able to stop feeling for the sweet one.
Punch the Monkey’s story captivated the attention of social media. Even the famous brand Ikea used a similar concept in their campaign, aligning with the viral trend. Apart from being in trend, the emotional point of view is what hit the right chord, making him go viral, with the power of an emotional story.
Punch the Monkey could make new friends, finally
The zoo continuously posts updates on Punch the Monkey, and as per an update from February 6, 2026, he could finally make some connections and started interacting with other monkeys out there. In the videos, Punch could be seen carrying his plush toy as he was directed to his new home.
Well, he could at least find a ground, and as per another update from February 12, 2026, Punch the Monkey often gets scolded still, but he is trying and understanding the rules of the group. The zoo hasn’t commented on the requests of NBC and Today news. Well, if the reports are to be believed, since the time Punch The Monkey went viral, there has been a spike in visitors to the zoo. Well, Punch the Monkey carved a place in the hearts of social media users, be it with his defeated look near the soft toy, or his habit of clinging to the orange plushie.
What do you think about the viral Punch the Monkey’s emotional story?
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