Punch the Macaque Goes Viral: A Plush Toy Wins the Internet's Heart
TL;DR
Punch-kun, a 6-month-old Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, was abandoned by his mother and bonded with an IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plushie; the comfort toy aided his social reintegration and propelled him to internet stardom with millions of views, inspiring fan art and even a boost in Djungelskog sales, while zookeepers note his growing acceptance among peers and view him as a symbol of resilience and the power of connection.
- Meet Punch: The abandoned monkey taking the internet by storm Euronews.com
- A Lonely Baby Monkey Wins Hearts, and Even a Few Friends - The New York Times The New York Times
- Give Punch a break! Zoo responds to heartbreaking video of baby monkey USA Today
- Baby macaque Punch finds comfort in stuffed orangutan after being rejected by mother — and becomes a viral symbol of hope Yahoo
- Abandoned baby monkey finds comfort in stuffed orangutan, charming zoo visitors Reuters
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