The story of Punch, a baby macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo outside Tokyo, has sparked global attention, and renewed debate over the ethics of keeping animals in captivity.
Punch, who was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth in July, became an internet sensation after photos showed him being bullied by other monkeys and clinging to a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort. The images quickly spread online under the hashtag #HangInTherePunch, drawing thousands of visitors to the zoo.
Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said the monkey’s situation highlights what it describes as the cruelty of zoos. “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,” said Jason Baker, PETA’s Asia director.
“What some are calling ‘cute’ is actually a glimpse into the trauma of a young, highly social primate coping with isolation and loss,” Baker added. He urged that Punch be transferred to “a reputable sanctuary, where he could live in a more natural environment.”
After being rejected by his mother, Punch was raised in an artificial environment and only began training to rejoin his troop last month. The zoo later said that he was “meticulously groomed by two monkeys and is steadily fitting into the group.”
The viral attention has led to a surge in visitor numbers. Over a recent long holiday weekend in Japan, more than 5,000 people visited the zoo in a single day, with some queuing for up to an hour to see the young macaque.
The zoo said it had created a restricted zone around part of the enclosure to help reduce stress on the animals. It also noted that many members of the public had inquired about making donations.
Meanwhile, IKEA, the maker of the orangutan plush toy Punch clings to, reported “unprecedented” interest in the product. Ingka Group, which controls most IKEA stores, said sales had risen significantly, and the toy was temporarily out of stock in some markets, including Japan and the United States.
While many online have described Punch’s attachment to the toy as heartwarming, critics say it underscores the psychological strain animals may experience in captivity.
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