"Punch-kun" Punch-kun is a tiny Japanese monkey who has become a viral sensation worldwide for constantly hugging his favorite doll. His story reflects both cuteness and loneliness, revealing the vulnerability of living beings, which has touched hearts globally.
Thairath Online will take you to get to know "Punch-kun"— Punch-kun —who he is, why everyone is rooting for him, and what sparked the worldwide online buzz about him.
" Punch-kun is a Japanese snow monkey baby just over six months old, born on 26 July 2025. He became a focus of attention in Japan and abroad in early 2026 after photos showed him carrying an orangutan doll, wandering alone around Ishikawa Zoo in Japan.
The reason is that Punch-kun’s mother rejected him at birth, leaving him abandoned. As he grew, zoo staff introduced him to the monkey troop on 19 January 2026. However, without maternal care, Punch-kun struggled to adjust and was bullied by larger monkeys. For such a young monkey, relying on his mother for physical and emotional growth is crucial.
Zoo staff gave Punch-kun a long-haired orangutan doll to hug as a substitute mother. Since then, Punch-kun has been holding and resting against the doll constantly. This heartwarming yet heartbreaking image went viral on social media, touching millions worldwide who began encouraging him with the hashtag #がんばれパンチ (Hang in there, Punch!).
Many people are rooting for Punch-kun to integrate with the troop, but without a mother’s protection, he is sometimes bullied by larger monkeys. Whenever this happens, Punch-kun runs back to hug his orangutan doll, his surrogate mother, which has only increased public support for him.Orangutanas his adoptive mother has deepened the wave of encouragement for Punch-kun.
Recently, Japan's NHK news reported that on Thursday morning (19 Feb), more than 900 visitors came to Ishikawa Zoo to greet Punch-kun—four times the usual number. It is expected that visitor numbers will continue to rise over the coming weekend.
Punch-kun resides at Ishikawa City Zoo located in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, Japan..For anyone wanting to visit Punch-kun, here are the details:
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