Punch monkey is an orphaned Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo who was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth and hand raised by keepers.
The zoo gave him an IKEA Djungelskog orangutan plushie to provide a gripping surrogate and to help his muscle development and socialisation, zookeepers said.
Video clips of Punch clinging to the plushie and of older macaques at times scolding or dragging him circulated widely on social media, prompting the hashtag #HangInTherePunch.
The publicity drove unprecedented visitor lines at Ichikawa City Zoo and prompted the zoo to ask visitors to behave calmly and avoid prolonged photography, the keepers wrote on X.
IKEA representatives visited the zoo and donated multiple replacement Djungelskog toys after the plushie became highly sought after, and reports said the item sold out in some countries.
Expert Views Public Reaction And Welfare Questions
Primatology experts quoted in coverage said maternal inexperience and environmental stress can explain some maternal rejection among macaques, and that surrogate objects can serve as attachment figures.
Alison Behie of Australian National University said the plushie is not a replacement for a mother but may reduce stress responses and give Punch a retreat during reintegration.
Dr Emily Bethell of Liverpool John Moores University said keepers should monitor Punch closely and only remove him from the troop if a real risk of physical harm emerges.
Wildlife advocates and charities warned that viral fame can mislead the public about species needs, risk fuelling interest in keeping infant macaques as pets, and obscure broader welfare issues in captivity.
The zoo reported gradual progress, saying Punch has started interacting with troop members, receiving grooming and learning social cues, while keepers continue reintegration efforts.
Coverage noted commercial and public responses, including widespread online sympathy, merchandise demand, and a search animation added by Google in recognition of the viral attention.
