Punch, a 7-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, recently became a social media sensation. Images of the animal being bullied by other macaques and clinging to an IKEA plushie as a "surrogate mother" after being abandoned by its birth mother were widely shared, moving many people.
Earlier this week, IKEA announced a significant increase in sales for its DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plushie, which sold out in Japan, South Korea, and the US markets. The Swedish furniture company asked customers in these regions to await restocking.
"We are ensuring the product is restocked soon", said Javier Quinones, Ingka Group's retail manager for IKEA. "This toy was already one of our most sought-after products in many markets, and Punch's story from Japan is generating even more interest".
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Punch with its "plush mother" at the monkey mountain area, Ichikawa Zoo, 19/2. Photo: AFP |
"Seeing our plush toy provide comfort, a sense of peace, and reassurance to Punch in Japan truly moved us", said Karin Blindh Pedersen, head of children's toys at IKEA.
The world's largest furniture retailer also quickly leveraged this marketing opportunity, launching new advertisements that called the plush toy "Punch's comforting orangutan mother".
The zoo provides regular updates on the monkey's life after it moved to live with the troop in the monkey mountain area. When bullied, Punch immediately runs to cling to its plush "mother". When it feels secure, it lets go of the toy and returns to the troop.
The small zoo became overwhelmed by the surge in visitors, especially during holidays and weekends, with long lines of people waiting to see Punch. The zoo posted a notice on its website, encouraging visitors to use public transportation instead of oto.
Joan Silk, a professor of evolution at Arizona State University, US, noted that the plush toy helps Punch navigate its lonely early life. Japanese macaques typically cling tightly to their mothers after birth to develop muscles, but because Punch was abandoned, it could not do so.
However, Punch's future development depends on whether the troop accepts it, specifically if any adult macaques will groom it, or allow it to sit or sleep nearby.
Professor Silk also mentioned that many people wanted to adopt Punch out of sympathy for its loneliness and isolation. "I understand the human instinct to intervene, but that is not the solution. It must live a monkey's life", she said.
Ichikawa Zoo also wrote: "Although Punch is bullied and has not fully integrated, it still shows strong, resilient psychology. We hope everyone will support Punch's efforts, rather than pitying it".
Punch's persistence is beginning to pay off. Recent videos show Punch being groomed by another macaque from the troop or playing with younger macaques of similar age.
Duc Trung (According to Washington Post, Mainichi, Asahi)
