Abandoned Baby Monkey Punch Finally Finds a Girlfriend and the Internet Is Completely Smitten
If you have spent any time on social media over the past several months, you have likely encountered Punch, the tiny Japanese macaque who managed to melt the hearts of millions across the globe. Born in July 2025 at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, Japan, Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, leaving him vulnerable and without the warmth and protection that infant macaques depend on to survive. Zoo staff stepped in immediately, hand-raising the little monkey and working carefully to help him integrate into a troop of other Japanese macaques. It was a slow, often difficult journey, but Punch’s resilience kept the internet rooting for him every step of the way.
Caretakers gave him a stuffed orangutan to help ease his anxiety and loneliness, since it is common for baby monkeys to cling to their mothers after birth. The plush toy, an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG soft toy that fans quickly nicknamed “Oran-Mama,” became Punch’s constant companion and emotional anchor. After Punch went viral, Petra Fare, President and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Japan, visited Ichikawa City Zoo in a show of support for the little primate who had unwittingly turned the beloved stuffed animal into a global symbol of comfort. The image of Punch clutching his orange plushie became one of the most shared and emotionally resonant visuals of the year.
Life inside the troop was not always easy for Punch. Early videos showed some of the other monkeys pushing Punch away when he tried to interact, and he was seen struggling to find his place within the group. The zoo was careful to clarify that what appeared to be bullying was actually something more nuanced. Ichikawa City Zoo insisted that Punch was never outright bullied, explaining that the behavior reflected a “strict hierarchical society” where “dominant individuals show ‘disciplining actions’ toward their subordinates.” In a statement released on social media, the zoo added, “Although Punch has been scolded many times by other monkeys, no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him,” urging followers to cheer Punch on rather than feel sorry for him.
Over time, those words proved to be exactly right. As Punch gained strength, he began spending more time within the group rather than at its margins, and he is now seen being groomed and at times carried on the backs of other monkeys, behaviors that indicate acceptance and the building of social bonds within the troop’s hierarchical structure. The plush toy remained nearby throughout this process, though it began to appear less essential as Punch grew more confident. Zoo director Shigekazu Mizushina noted, “When he grows out of the plush toy that encourages his independence, and that’s what we are hoping for.”
Now, in what fans everywhere are calling his fairytale chapter, Punch appears to have found something even better than a stuffed surrogate. New social media posts show the famous monkey kissing, cuddling, and affectionately playing with a female macaque believed to be named Momo-chan, with many calling her Punch’s new girlfriend. An Instagram channel named Beyond The Wildlife shared one of the videos and wrote, “Exciting news! Recently, Punch found a girlfriend named Moe, and they have spent all their time together. Moe is a little older than Punch, but they are completely inseparable.” The clips show the pair sitting close, chasing each other, grooming, and exchanging what viewers have enthusiastically described as kisses.
@ikaaa1805 punch & bestie 😍❤️#monkeypunch ♬ Beautiful Destiny – Zia Hana
The internet’s reaction was exactly what anyone who has followed Punch’s story would expect. One person quipped on social media, “Punch found a girlfriend and you’re still single,” while others were moved to express genuine joy for the little monkey who had been through so much. One user declared, “I am so proud of baby Punch, he deserves a girlfriend,” while another joked that Punch “found a girl and forgot the plushie,” referencing the orange toy he once carried everywhere. Several fans also pointed out a charming coincidence: Momo-chan’s coloring bears a striking resemblance to the stuffed orangutan that kept Punch company all those months, prompting one commenter to joke that “his stuffed animal came to life.”
The mating season for Japanese macaques typically runs from March to September, with females selecting their preferred mate, which makes the timing of Punch’s new companionship particularly fitting. In the wild, these animals, also known as snow monkeys, are highly social creatures that live in large troops and form complex, lasting relationships. For a monkey who once could not find a single friend in his enclosure, the fact that Punch is now at the center of a genuine social bond feels like the kind of ending that story deserved.
Japanese macaques are one of the few non-human primates known to wash their food in water before eating it, a behavior first observed in the 1950s and believed to have spread through social learning within troops. They are also the northernmost-living non-human primate species in the world, capable of surviving in temperatures well below freezing, which is how they earned the snow monkey nickname. Punch’s beloved IKEA plushie, the DJUNGELSKOG, reportedly sold out in multiple countries after his story went viral, turning a humble stuffed animal into one of the most unexpectedly in-demand toys of the year.
Have you been following Punch’s journey, and what do you think about his adorable new friendship? Share your thoughts in the comments.
