In video: Viral monkey baby Punch finds love; seen kissing, cuddling female macaque

Punch, the adorable baby monkey who previously went viral for clinging to an orange plush toy after being abandoned by his mother, now appears to have found companionship!

The young macaque has recently been spotted cuddling and exchanging affectionate gestures with a female macaque believed to be named Momo-chan at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo.

Videos of Punch kissing and cuddling Momo-chan goes viral

Clips shared across X and other social media platforms show the pair playfully interacting - chasing each other, leaping around, and spending time together.

"Punch":
Porque se hizo una novia que lo manosea a cada rato para jugar con él.pic.twitter.com/1VSVyE8Q21

— Tendencias (@TTendenciaX) March 16, 2026

In several videos, Punch’s signature orange orangutan plushie can still be seen nearby as the two sit close, hugging and cuddling.

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Punch was happily cuddling with his Oran Mama plush when Momiage came over and invited him to play. They started their cute wrestling game—until a bigger monkey got jealous and scared them off! 😠 Momiage ran one way, and Punch dashed back to grab his plushie before bolting to… pic.twitter.com/bAn7JLY0MC

— Therapeutic Videos (@therapeuticvids) March 16, 2026

The baby monkey that became an internet sensation

Punch first captured global attention when he was seen carrying the soft toy everywhere after being pushed away by his mother and reportedly bullied by other monkeys.

Noticing his isolation, zoo staff provided him with a towel and a couple of stuffed toys for comfort. He quickly formed an attachment to the orangutan plushie, rarely letting it out of his sight.

His story struck an emotional chord online, with many people expressing sympathy for the young animal relying on a toy for companionship. Visitors soon began flocking to the zoo near Tokyo to catch a glimpse of the viral macaque and his beloved plushie.

Punch’s story takes a heartwarming turn

Now, however, Punch’s story has taken a heartwarming turn. Recent images show him socializing with other monkeys, being groomed and even carried on their backs, signs that he is gradually integrating into the group and developing natural social bonds.

When zoo workers first introduced the plush toy, their hope was that Punch would eventually outgrow his dependence on it. Zoo director Shigekazu Mizushina had earlier expressed that the toy was meant to support Punch’s emotional development and independence, something that now seems to be slowly becoming a reality.