Overview
- Ichikawa City Zoo says Punch was meticulously groomed by two monkeys and is steadily fitting into the group, with visitors also posting clips of play.
- Born in July 2025 and abandoned by his mother, Punch was hand‑reared and reintroduced to the troop on Jan. 19 with an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan used as a comfort and grooming practice aid.
- A viral clip of an adult dragging Punch was characterized by keepers and primatologists as disciplinary social learning typical of macaque hierarchies.
- Crowds swelled at the zoo to more than 5,000 visitors on a holiday Monday, prompting a restricted viewing zone to reduce animal stress and a rise in donation inquiries.
- IKEA’s holding company reports the orangutan toy is out of stock in markets including Japan and the United States, with resellers listing it for hundreds of dollars, while PETA urges Punch’s transfer to a sanctuary.