In recent weeks, Punch, a 7-month-old baby monkey from Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo, has become a global sensation on the internet.

Google recently joined in on the celebrations surrounding the internet’s new star, Punch the Monkey.

Typing “punch the monkey” into Google triggers an unexpected digital effect that fills your screen with floating hearts with little monkey icons on them.

This viral phrase has turned search pages into a playful homage to the internet’s newest animal sense.

Google’s “Punch the Monkey” animation

When a user types “punch the monkey” into Google, an animated monkey icon appears on the results page. A bright pink heart, featuring a hand-drawn version of Punch holding a stuffed orangutan, instantly fills the screen.

This amazing feature delighted users all over the world and created even more buzz about the little Japanese macaque.

The interactive appears to acknowledge the growing love online for Punch, which has resonated widely across social media.

Google’s Punch animation has garnered a lot of attention, with 7.6 million likes and counting.

Who is Punch?

Punch became an internet sensation after footage of him clinging to a zookeeper and dragging a stuffed orangutan around was widely shared on X.

Punch’s mother abandoned the monkey at Ichikawa City Zoo when he was born seven months ago, but an onlooker noticed and alerted zookeepers, who took action.

Punch required quick intervention because baby Japanese macaques typically cling to their mothers for strength and a sense of security, zookeeper Kosuke Shikano said.

The zoo looked for alternatives, such as a towel or another stuffed animal, but Punch chose a stuffed orangutan friend.

Punch’s Internet Roots

After trying alternatives such as rolled up towels and other stuffed animals, zookeepers settled on an orange bug-eyed orangutan from Swedish furniture brand IKEA.

Since then, Punch has rarely been seen without it, dragging the stuffed animal everywhere despite it being larger than him, much to the delight of fans who have flocked to the zoo since videos of the two went viral.

Punch’s plight sparked sympathy online and created a devoted fanbase who began posting updates about the monkey using the hashtag #HangInTherePunch.

The monkey enclosure has become a must-see attraction, with visitors flocking to the punch enclosure.