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Punch, the Viral Baby Monkey, Isn’t Being Bullied, Ichikawa City Zoo Says
Ichikawa Zoo says social discipline, not bullying, explains treatment of Punch, a motherless macaque clinging to a plush toy amid rising visitor numbers and global online interest.
- Following viral videos, the zoo on March 10 said Punch, a seven‑month‑old Japanese macaque, was not being bullied after concerns circulated online.
- Zookeepers at Ichikawa City Zoo first tried rolled towels before giving Punch an IKEA plush orangutan as a surrogate after abandonment, while macaque experts note matrilineal hierarchy enforces troop discipline.
- Footage exploded online in February, making Punch widely known as social media users and fans created fan art, memes, and petitions inspired by the seven-month-old macaque and his IKEA orangutan plush.
- Visitors to Ichikawa City Zoo surged, prompting barriers and photography restrictions, while PETA urged relocation and the zoo warned against separation risks.
- Recent clips show Punch being groomed and interacting again, while Carla Litchfield warned viral fame risks encouraging illegal infant‑primate trade.
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Punch the Monkey Update: Why Bullying Persists Despite Support
Despite widespread global support, Punch the monkey still endures rough handling from his fellow primates in videos that continue to break hearts online. This baby Japanese macaque, residing at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, Japan, was abandoned by his mother soon after his birth in July 2025. Provided with a stuffed orangutan toy by zookeepers, Punch has become a symbol of resilience, clutching it tightly amid challenges. Fresh updates reveal tent…
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
L 17%
C 33%
R 50%
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