Who is Punch, the macaque who has gone viral around the world?

The Japanese macaque named Punch —also known as Panchi‑kun— has become one of the most touching viral phenomena of 2026. This six-month-old baby, who lives in the Ichikawa Zoological and Botanical Garden (Chiba, Japan), rose to fame on social media after appearing hugging and dragging an orangutan plush toy that the caregivers gave him as a substitute for his mother, who abandoned him after birth. 

Punch's videos with his plush toy —affectionately named “Oran‑Mama” by fans in Japan— have accumulated tens of millions of views on platforms like TikTok, X and Instagram, making him a symbol of tenderness, loneliness and resilience. 

Its story has also had repercussions outside of social media: the zoo has received a massive influx of visitors eager to see him in person, to the point that there have been long lines at the entrances. In fact, its virality has meant a good marketing campaign even for its plush toy, from the company IKEA, which has added on its website that the doll is being one of the best sellers in Spain and is sold out in other IKEA stores around the world. In fact, the company has recently taken the opportunity to donate more plush toys to the zoo for Punch.

Also, images have been disseminated in which Punch seems that he has finally been accepted by another adult member of his group, who offers him care and company, which many interpret as a positive step in his social integration within the macaque colony. 

The Punch phenomenon has captured global attention not only for its tenderness, but also for the debate it generates about animal welfare in captivity and the emotional connection that these primates can express, also functioning as a 'mirror' for millions of people around the planet, which has also led psychology and emotional care accounts to use the phenomenon to reflect on bonds and attachments.