Punch, the orphaned baby Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, Tokyo, who conquered the hearts of millions while clinging to an orangutan plushie, has turned one. The monkey celebrated his first birthday on 26 June, and was flooded with messages from well-wishers and fans around the world. He is also making friends, and his enclosure is getting an upgrade, thanks to donations.
Punch turns 1
Punch, a Japanese macaque known for clinging to a stuffed orangutan, interacts with other monkeys at Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Manami Yamada
A year ago, Punch was a baby macaque abandoned by his mother, orphaned at an age when infants should be clinging to their mothers for survival. The tiny primate became inseparable from a stuffed orangutan toy. But by his first birthday this month, Punch’s life has transformed entirely. He is no longer the solitary figure hugging a plushie. He is now roughhousing with siblings, grooming other monkeys, and thriving in the chaos of his troop. Punch has even became a baby protector, guarding little ones from attacks.On Sunday, 26 July, Punch received some 2,500 birthday cards from inside and outside Japan, according to Takashi Yasunaga, the head of the zoo. He mingles with other monkeys and plays with them at the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden. He continues to attract large crowds, who come from different parts of the world to meet him.“As Punch was struggling very hard to live each day, his two keepers did everything they could, while other staff watched over him. It was extremely hot when Punch was born. The memory is still clear to me as the hot season returns,” Yasunaga told the Associated Press.
Beyond the sensation
Punch’s heart-wrenching story, including his survival, has also been an inspiration to many. Kumi Ishizawa, a Kobe resident who arrived at the zoo on his birthday, told AP how she fought her illness and made it her goal to visit him. “He moved me … I kept telling myself that I’m going to get well and come to visit Punch. And here I am, I made it. I’m very happy I could finally see him in person,” Ishizawa, who has since recovered, revealed.Yeye Lights, a long-time resident in the city, visited the zoo for the first time after learning about Punch via his daughter in the Philippines. An ardent fan, Lights now has an annual visitor pass. “I have a cake for Punch-kun, I’m celebrating with my friends,” Lights said.
Punch gets a lifestyle upgrade
Ever since the story of Punch broke the internet, the baby macaque has been drawing global attention and an outpouring of support. After learning that the baby macaque had been hugging a stuffed toy for emotional support, IKEA donated a stack of plush orangutan toys to the zoo. The influx of attention translated into something concrete. A donation fund was created for Punch in March, and later extended to December after receiving a large number of contributions. By the end of May, they had raised 48 million yen (approximately $300,000), according to USA Today. The zoo also submitted a supplementary budget proposal of 70 million yen (about $437,000) to the Ichikawa City Council to improve Punch’s enclosure and other macaques’ habitats.The upgrades reportedly include expanding the monkey’s enclosure and installing sunshades and air conditioning. These are not just luxury lifestyle modifications. The zoo was founded on volcanic rock, which suits Japanese macaques in cooler climates but creates genuine welfare challenges during Japan’s brutal summers, the season when Punch was born. With the funds, Punch and other members of the zoo will be getting more comfortable lives. All thanks to the internet.
