A baby Japanese macaque named Punch at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo has become an internet sensation after footage of the abandoned monkey went viral on social media. According to reports, the six-to-seven-month-old macaque was abandoned by his mother after birth and has been struggling to integrate with other monkeys at the zoo.
Footage showing Punch clinging to zookeepers and dragging a stuffed toy orangutan from IKEA has captured global attention. The viral videos depict the young monkey being bullied by larger monkeys in his enclosure, which has drawn sympathy from online viewers.
NOT a joke
The controversy surrounding Punch has attracted the attention of brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, who reportedly offered $250,000 to purchase the monkey. According to Swedish media outlet TV4 Nyheterna, Tristan Tate stated on social media platform X that the offer was 'NOT a joke' and asked which zoo owned the animal.
However, zoo officials indicate that Punch is gradually adjusting to being with other monkeys, and dozens of visitors have reportedly queued outside the zoo to see the viral sensation in person. Some visitors told Euronews they learned about Punch on Instagram and traveled specifically to see him.
Animal sales from zoos are strictly regulated and typically occur only between accredited institutions, making any private sale to individuals like the Tate brothers unlikely according to standard zoo practices.