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Few things unite people on the internet these days but if there's one thing that can bring social media together, it's a heartwarming animal video.
That's why Twitter users have been quick to rally around Punch, a six-month-old baby macaque monkey from Japan who found solace in a stuffed toy after he was rejected by his mother after birth.
Punch (or Punch-kun in Japanese) was born in July at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, and has been hand-reared and hand-fed by zookeepers since being abandoned by his mother and her troop. Other monkeys in his enclosure have been similarly hostile, leaving poor punch to fend for himself when not under the watchful eye of his handlers.
Fortunately, the zookeepers found a solution, purchasing a stuffed animal to keep Punch company. His companion of choice: an orange plush orangutan from IKEA.
VIRAL TOY
DJUNGELSKOG Soft Toy Orangutan
Though it's not quite a stand-in for his mother, the IKEA monkey offers a similarly cuddly and furry companion for Punch (or others) to snuggle up to. Its long arms let the plush orangutan hang from your shoulders or around your waist (a velcro fastening lets you press its hands and feet together).
At 14 inches in height, it's just a tad smaller than a female macaque, which can range from 15-20 inches in size depending on the species. But Punch doesn't seem to mind, with videos from the zoo showing him curling up with the plush toy when sleeping, or dragging it around his enclosure during the day time.
IKEA says its toy orangutan is made from a polyester shell with a recycled polyester fiber filling. Either Punch has been super gentle (doubtful if the photos are to be believed) or the plush animal is super durable, because we have yet to see any of the stuffy's stuffing fall out.
You can pick up the orange monkey toy now for $19.99 at IKEA.com. We recommend adding to cart while it's still in stock — like all viral toys and merch, the IKEA DJUNGELSKOG Orangutan is expected to sell out soon.
While IKEA hasn't officially confirmed that the zookeepers purchased their stuffed toy, the furniture store's social media handles have been replying to posts about the orangutan in the affirmative. The word Djungelskog by the way, it is Swedish for “jungle forest.”
You can follow little Punch's exploits through the Ichikawa Zoo's social media channels. The zoo says visitors to the park have significantly increased since Punch went viral, writing that the staff is “Greatly surprised by the unprecedented and unexpected crowds we experienced.”
Punch is lucky to be cared for by the Japanese zookeepers — most baby monkeys who are rejected by their mothers or troops in the wild face almost certain death, as they aren't able to find food or shelter on their own.
