PETA slams treatment of Punch the monkey
· Toronto Sun
While baby macaque Punch may be the internet’s latest darling after videos of him clinging to an orangutan stuffed toy went viral, an animal rights group says there’s “nothing heartwarming” about the monkey’s plight.
Seven-month-old Punch, who was abandoned by his mother, was given a plush IKEA orangutan for comfort by zookeepers at Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo.
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Videos of the young macaque, holding the toy, nicknamed “Ora-mama,” as he learns to integrate with other monkeys in the zoo’s enclosure, have captivated many online.
However, many of his fans were left worried after one video posted on X last Thursday showed Punch being dragged around by an adult macaque before running off with his stuffed toy.
In response to the viral videos, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have issued a statement, saying there’s nothing “cute” about a monkey “confined in a concrete pit.”
“Zoos are not sanctuaries — they are places where animals are confined, deprived of autonomy, and denied the complex environments and social lives they would have in the wild,” PETA’s Asia director Jason Baker said.
“What some are calling ‘cute’ is actually a glimpse into the trauma of a young, highly social primate coping with isolation and loss,” he said.
“Like all macaques, Punch should be growing up in a tight-knit family group, learning vital social skills and exploring a rich, natural habitat—not seeking solace from a toy in a concrete pit.”
The group is calling for Punch to be moved to a “reputable sanctuary, where he could live in a more natural environment.”
Zoo responds to criticism
Ichikawa City Zoo issued a statement in response to concerns about its monkey habitat on Wednesday.
“Animal welfare is the top priority of the current environment, and we are doing our best to improve the monkeys’ living conditions,” the statement read.
“Four rooms are always open at the back, which is invisible to visitors, and Punch uses the space inside,” it added.
Previous updates from the zoo on X have said the macaque has been interacting with more monkeys with each day’s passing.
2/22(日)のサル山の様子
— 市川市動植物園（公式） (@ichikawa_zoo) February 22, 2026
飼育員「皆さんのマナーのおかげで、静かな感じで特にケンカ等はありませんでした。パンチは17頃、2頭のサルに念入りに毛づくろいされるなど、群れに着実になじんできています」#市川市動植物園#がんばれパンチ pic.twitter.com/EyjV0rpvPv
Raised by zookeepers since his birth in July 2025, the zoo has been sharing updates on X as the tiny macaque learns to socialize with other monkeys at the zoo since he was introduced to the troop in January.
パンチは少しずつ群れのサル達との交流を深めています！
— 市川市動植物園（公式） (@ichikawa_zoo) February 6, 2026
毛づくろいされたり、ちょっかいをかけてみたり、怒られたりと毎日色んな経験をして、サルとして群れで暮らすための生き方を日々学んでいます！#市川市動植物園#ニホンザル#パンチ #がんばれパンチ#市川ファン pic.twitter.com/Ds0NT7FKFg
IKEA’s Djungelskog orangatan toy sold out in some markets
The popularity of Punch has IKEA cashing in on the craze, with the Swedish furniture company advertising the Djungelskog toy as “Punch’s comfort orangutan.”
The company said it was seeing “unprecedented” interest and “significantly” higher sales than usual of the toy, with the stuffie being sold out in several markets, including Japan and the United States, AFP reported.
As of Thursday afternoon, the toy was listed as “currently unavailable” online at its North York location in Toronto.
While many people may be scooping up the stuffed toy, it seems Punch is slowly learning to rely on it less as he socializes with other monkeys.
“He played with the other young monkeys without using his stuffed toy,” the zoo posted in an update on X on Thursday.
2/26(木)のパンチ
— 市川市動植物園（公式） (@ichikawa_zoo) February 26, 2026
飼育員「ぬいぐるみは使わず他の子ザル達と遊んでいました。左腕について『怪我しているのでは？』とご心配の声をいただきましたが、念のため獣医にも診てもらい、特に異状なく元気に過ごしていますよ」#市川市動植物園#がんばれパンチ pic.twitter.com/WNFpaqMS2Q