Overview
- In a new clip from Ichikawa City Zoo, Punch sits with a young troopmate as both cuddle his orangutan plush and nibble snacks placed on the toy.
- Keepers have told followers that earlier rough interactions seen online were disciplinary scoldings typical of macaque social learning and resulted in no injuries.
- The stuffed orangutan from IKEA, nicknamed by fans, has sold out in several countries as global interest in Punch surged on social media.
- Zoo posts and reporting describe incremental progress toward acceptance, highlighted by an adult macaque named Onsing embracing Punch earlier in February.
- Animal-welfare advocates, including PETA, used the case to criticize captivity practices and called for family-group rearing over reliance on comfort objects.