Punch the Macaque Goes Viral: A Plush Toy Wins the Internet's Heart
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.