Punch the Monkey Update (Feb 26, 2026) | Viral Japanese Monkey Story, Zoo and Video Deep Dive

Here’s everything in the latest Punch the Monkey Update (February 26, 2026). Read on for the full Punch the Monkey story, who is Punch the Monkey, where is Punch the Monkey’s zoo in Japan, the viral Punch the Monkey accepted video, and how Punch the Monkey became famous worldwide.

Punch the Monkey Update (February 26, 2026)

Punch the Monkey is Settling in and Making Friends, According to the Zoo

Ichikawa City Zoo has indicated that Punch is gradually integrating into the macaque troop. Recent footage shows him remaining near other monkeys and mimicking their behavior while sheltering from the rain.

The zoo has also clarified that earlier viral clips were part of normal macaque social hierarchy and discipline. Newer updates suggest Punch is becoming more comfortable within the group environment.

Punch the Monkey Story

Who is Punch the Monkey?

Punch the Monkey Image Via @mcafee.jd Instagram

Punch the Monkey is a young Japanese macaque living at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, Japan. Born in 2025, he is still under a year old and was reportedly abandoned by his mother shortly after birth. Keepers stepped in to support him, which is part of how his story first gained attention.

Punch went viral after being seen clinging to an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush, which he uses for comfort. In several widely shared clips, he is chased or roughly handled by older monkeys before returning to his stuffed toy. While many viewers described the larger monkeys as “mean,” the behavior has been framed by Ichikawa City Zoo as part of normal troop hierarchy as Punch adjusts to group life.

Where is Punch the Monkey’s Zoo?

Ichikawa City Zoo is located in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, just east of Tokyo, Japan. It is a small municipal zoo rather than a major Tokyo wildlife park, and it houses a modest group of Japanese macaques along with other animals. Punch the Monkey lives there, and the zoo has seen a surge in visitors and online searches since his videos went viral.

Many people confused Ichikawa City Zoo with Ishikawa Zoo, a completely separate facility in another area of Japan. Ishikawa Zoo addressed the mix-up after reportedly receiving inquiries about Punch.

The confusion sparked debate about whether Punch should be relocated to a larger zoo. Some commenters argue he would be better off at a bigger facility, while others note that he is already in managed care at Ichikawa City Zoo and is being integrated into the macaque troop under staff supervision.

Punch the Monkey’s IKEA Stuffed Animal (The DJUNGELSKOG Orangutan)

^{_{Punch the Baby Monkey X post @Complex}}

Punch’s comfort object is an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush, which quickly became almost as famous as he is. After videos showed him clinging to the stuffed toy for security, demand for the plush surged globally, with reports of it selling out in multiple countries and resale listings appearing online.

The viral moment even reached IKEA Japan leadership. IKEA Japan donated additional DJUNGELSKOG plush toys to Ichikawa City Zoo after Punch’s story spread online. Social media posts from the company showed the donated toys at the zoo, further amplifying the connection between Punch and the now-iconic stuffed orangutan.

Punch the Monkey Video List

Punch the Monkey Dragged by Older Monkey, Runs Back to Hug Plush Monkey TikTok Video

Shared by @news.com.au on TikTok: 98M+ Views (as of writing)

^{_{Punch the Monkey @News.com.au TikTok}}

A viral Punch the Monkey video shared by @news.com.au on TikTok has racked up over 98 million views and more than 10 million likes. The clip shows Punch being dragged by an older monkey before running back to his IKEA orangutan plush for comfort. The video sparked massive reaction in the comments, with many viewers expressing concern and debating whether Punch should remain in the enclosure.

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO Video: Punch the Monkey Shelters from the Rain with Monkey Friends

Shared by @FoxNews on X: 79.2K Views (as of writing)

^{_{Punch the Monkey @FoxNews X Post}}

A new Punch the Monkey video shared by @FoxNews on X gained over 79.2K views within just two hours of being posted. The clip shows Punch mimicking an older monkey while sheltering from the rain. Captioned “MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO,” the post added that the once-abandoned primate is now settling in and making friends, according to the zoo.

Punch the Monkey Accepted Video: Punch Gets his First Hug

Shared By @rosiejohnson13 on TikTok: 2.9M Views (as of writing)

^{_{Punch The Monkey Accepted TikTok Video By @rosiejohnson13}}

A heartwarming Punch the Monkey video posted by @rosiejohnson13 on TikTok has reached 2.9 million views. The clip uses a “before and after” format, first showing Punch being pushed away by other monkeys. The second half reveals a major shift, Punch receiving what the video called his first hug from the group and celebrating his acceptance.

Punch the Monkey Protected by Adult Monkeys in his Clan: Punch the Monkey Finds Friends Video

Shared By @dailyview57 on TikTok: 236K Views (as of writing)

^{_{Punch The Monkey Finds Friends TikTok By @dailyview57}}

A Punch the Monkey video posted by @dailyview57 on TikTok has gained 236K views. The clip is captioned “new video of ‘Punch’ the monkey being protected by adults in his clan.” The footage shows Punch being chased by one monkey while other monkeys step in and shelter him, which many viewers interpreted as protection. The moment fueled discussion that Punch may finally be gaining support within the group.

Punch the Monkey Plays with Ikea Orangutan Plush Toy

Shared by @vinny.jolly on Instagram: 3.6M Likes (as of writing)

_{^{Punch The Monkey Instagram Video By @vinny.jolly}}

A viral Punch the Monkey video posted by @vinny.jolly on Instagram has gained over 3.6 million likes. The clip shows Punch crawling in front of his IKEA orangutan plush so that the toy appears to be hugging him. In the video, Punch grabs his toy’s hand and positions himself against it, making it look like the stuffed monkey is holding him.

Best Punch the Monkey Memes

This is How I’ve Been Feeling Lately Punch the Monkey TikTok Meme

Shared by @innocentcemorebrowneyes on TikTok: 947K Views (as of writing)

_{^{Punch the Monkey Meme TikTok By @innocentcemorebrowneyes}}

A viral Punch the Monkey meme posted by @innocentcemorebrowneyes on TikTok has gained over 947K views. The video is captioned “this is how I’ve been feeling lately.” The clip features photos and short videos of Punch cuddling his IKEA orangutan plush and sitting quietly alone.

Googling “How to Make Friends” at 24 Years Old Punch the Monkey X Meme

Shared @ninamerav on X: 5M Views (as of writing)

^{_{Punch The Monkey X Meme By @ninamerav}}

A viral Punch the Monkey meme posted by @ninamerav on X has reached over 5 million views. The post features an image of Punch sitting facing a wall while his stuffed monkey sits behind him. The caption reads “googling ‘how to make friends’ at 24 years old.”

Punch the Monkey 2030 TikTok Meme

Shared By @uk___wala3 on TikTok: 93K+ Views (as of writing)

_{^{Punch The Monkey 2030 Meme By @uk___wala3}}

A viral Punch the Monkey meme shared by @uk___wala3 on TikTok imagines what Punch might look like in the future. The meme shows Punch in 2026 cuddling his stuffed monkey, along with a dramatic “Punch 2030” image. The second image references an angry Apes-style character, showing a much larger, intense-looking ape holding the same stuffed monkey. The exaggerated transformation plays into the internet’s running joke that Punch is quietly building his villain origin story.

Celebrity, Influencer, Company & Brand Reactions to Punch The Monkey

Andrew Tate’s Brother Tristan Offers To Buy Punch The Monkey For $250K On X

^{_{Punch The Monkey X Post @TateTheTalisman}}

Tristan Tate posted on X in response to a viral video of Punch being dragged by another monkey. In the reply, he tagged @Cobratate and wrote, “Which Zoo owns this monkey. @Cobratate and I will buy it. 250,000 dollars. I am NOT joking.”

The post quickly gained attention online and fueled debate about whether such a purchase would even be possible. There has been no indication that Ichikawa City Zoo would consider selling Punch, and zoo animals are not privately owned commodities available for sale.

Care Bears Post “We Love You, Punch!” On Instagram

_{^{WE LOVE YOU PUNCH @carebears Instagram}}

The official Care Bears account joined the Punch conversation by posting an image of him surrounded by the colorful bears with the caption, “we’ll always care, punch 💖.” The artwork placed Punch at the center of the classic rainbow Care Bears design.

The post quickly circulated across platforms as viewers reacted to the unexpected crossover. Many people in the comments suggested the brand should send Punch an actual Care Bear plush.

Viral Animals Trend Overview

Viral Animals: Moo Deng, Capybaras and More

_{^{Moo Deng Instagram @hippo.lover.world}}

The rise of Punch the Monkey fits into the long-running internet pattern where animals suddenly become global icons. Capybaras once dominated TikTok feeds with their unbothered energy, and then Moo Deng began drawing huge crowds in Thailand for being a cute little hippo. Viral animals often turn into real-world attractions almost overnight.

Meme culture has also turned animals into emotional characters online. The “I Am Pibble” meme, which features pit bulls or baby French bulldogs paired with a distorted voice saying “I am pibble, wash my bellay,” went viral in 2025 as a wholesome dog-washing meme.

Like Punch, these animals became internet personalities through cute edits, sounds, and projected feelings. When Moo Deng began trending, visitors flocked to see her in person, and now the same digital-to-physical pipeline is happening with Punch.

Monkeys And Internet History

_{^{Baby Monkey (Going Backwards On A Pig) – Parry Gripp Youtube}}

Monkeys have played a major role in internet culture for years. The most infamous example remains Harambe, whose 2016 death became one of the earliest massive meme moments of the modern social media era.

Even earlier, viral clips like the monkey riding backwards on a pig flooded early YouTube and Facebook feeds, becoming some of the internet’s first animal memes. Punch’s rise feels like a new chapter in that long-running tradition, where primates once again become unlikely stars of online culture.