Raise your own baby Japanese macaque — a Tamagotchi love story
Welcome, caretaker! Your Punch depends on you. Here's how to keep him happy and healthy:
Give Punch a banana when he's hungry. Watch him puff up with joy! Each feeding adds weight and fills his Hunger bar.
Punch loves hugging Oran-Mama. Cuddling fills his Love and Happiness bars. He'll blush and snuggle close.
Put Punch to bed to restore Energy. You'll see how long he sleeps — even if you close the browser and come back later!
Play 4 different games to boost Punch's stats: catch bananas, match cards, dodge bullies, or groom his fur!
💡 Tip: Stats decay over time — even when you're away. Check on Punch often!
Punch is a real baby Japanese macaque whose journey from rejection to acceptance touched millions of hearts around the world. This is his true story.
Raise Punch is inspired by one of the most beloved toys ever created. Here's the story behind the virtual pet revolution.
Punch is a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) — one of the most fascinating primates on Earth.
The northernmost-living non-human primates. They survive -20°C winters in the mountains of Honshu and are famous for bathing in natural hot springs to stay warm.
They wash sweet potatoes in the ocean before eating — a cultural behavior first observed in 1953 that spread through the entire troop via social learning across generations.
Troops have strict hierarchies led by an alpha female. Grooming maintains social bonds — the same behavior that signaled Punch's acceptance. Up to 4 hours a day!
Young macaques love wrestling, chasing, and making snowballs for fun — one of the few animals that play with objects recreationally with no practical purpose.
Mother-infant bonds are incredibly strong. When a baby is rejected — as Punch was — it's extremely rare for the infant to survive without human intervention.
Listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN but face habitat loss threats. Wildlife parks like Punch's play a crucial role in education and conservation.
Punch's surrogate mother isn't a real orangutan — she's a stuffed toy. But to Punch, she's everything. Meet the unlikely hero of this story.
Oran-Mama is an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG soft toy — a 66cm (26") orangutan plush from IKEA's beloved jungle animal collection. Launched in 2018, the Djungelskog line features bears, tigers, pandas, and orangutans, all designed with a friendly, huggable aesthetic. The orangutan retails for around $12.99 — making it one of the most affordable heroes in animal rescue history.
"Djungelskog" means "jungle forest" in Swedish — fitting for IKEA's Scandinavian roots. The park caretakers named the plush "Oran-Mama" — a combination of "orangutan" and "mama" — because Punch immediately treated her as his real mother from the moment they met.
Primatologists have long known that orphaned primates need a "contact comfort" object — something soft and warm to cling to. This echoes Harry Harlow's famous 1958 experiments, which proved that baby monkeys preferred a soft cloth "mother" over a wire one that provided food. Punch's attachment to Oran-Mama is the same instinct: warmth and softness mean safety.
After Punch went viral, IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plushes sold out worldwide. Fans bought them in solidarity, posting photos with the hashtag #OranMama. Some IKEA stores reported 10x normal sales. The plush became a symbol of comfort, resilience, and the idea that love can come from the most unexpected places.
Caretakers need to wash Oran-Mama regularly for hygiene. Every wash day is a mini crisis — Punch screams, searches frantically, and refuses to eat until she's returned. Staff now keep a second Djungelskog as a backup, but Punch can tell the difference and clearly prefers the original. He knows his mama by scent.
Even now that Punch is accepted by his troop and plays with other macaques all day, he still sleeps with Oran-Mama every single night. He retrieves her from his corner, wraps both arms around her orange fur, buries his face in her chest, and falls asleep. The caretakers say they've never seen anything like it.
🧸 Fun fact: In the game, when you press "Cuddle," Punch hugs Oran-Mama — just like the real Punch does dozens of times every day. The orange blob next to him on the LCD screen? That's her.
Raise Punch isn't just a game — it's a movement. A community of people who believe that every creature deserves love.
Our Mission: To spread Punch's story and remind the world that resilience, love, and a good plush friend can overcome anything. A portion of all $RAISE proceeds will be donated to primate conservation and wildlife rehabilitation programs.
Fan Creations: The community has produced incredible fan art, animations, and stories about Punch. From pixel art to oil paintings, Punch has inspired artists worldwide. Share your creations with #RaisePunch!
Global Stats: Thousands of virtual Punches are being raised right now across the world. Every banana fed, every cuddle given, and every mini-game played is a small act of digital love that echoes the real care Punch received.
Every holder is a caretaker. Every transaction is an act of love. Join the community raising Punch — the bravest baby macaque in the world.