The Problem
What the world sees as "cute" is actually a cry for help. Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, has become a viral sensation for clutching a stuffed IKEA orangutan. But behind the millions of views is a heartbreaking reality: Punch is a victim of psychological trauma.
Abandoned by his mother during a 2025 heatwave, Punch was denied the vital social bonding every primate needs to survive. Instead of receiving professional, species-appropriate rehabilitation, he has been turned into a "mascot" for tourists.
Why We Must Act Now
Recent footage from the "Monkey Mountain" shows Punch being bullied, dragged, and isolated by the troop. His stuffed toy isn't a "cute accessory"—it is a psychological crutch he clings to because he is terrified and has no mother to protect him.
• The Zoo is Profiting: While Punch suffers, the Ichikawa City Zoo continues to collect ticket fees from visitors coming to see the "viral monkey."
• The Integration is Failing: Forcing a traumatized infant back into a competitive troop without a foster mother is dangerous and cruel.
• Solitary Suffering: Without intervention, Punch faces a lifetime of social exclusion or "display-only" isolation.
Our Demands
We, the undersigned, call on the Ichikawa City Zoo and the Chiba Prefectural Government to:
1. Immediate Relocation: Transfer Punch to a qualified, non-profit primate sanctuary (such as those specialized in macaque rehabilitation) where he can be paired with a surrogate mother or a peaceful social group.
2. End the Commercialization of Trauma: Stop using Punch’s psychological distress as a marketing tool to draw in paying visitors.
3. Prioritize Welfare Over "Likes": A stuffed toy is not a substitute for a mother. Punch needs professional primatological care, not a gift shop gimmick.
Stop Paying. Start Acting.
Do not buy a ticket to Ichikawa City Zoo. Your money funds the continued display of a suffering animal. Sign this petition to demand that Punch be given a chance at a real life—one where he can finally let go of the toy and hold onto another living being.
#SavePunch #IchikawaCityZoo #PrimateRights