Netizens Call Out the Hypocrisy in Global Sympathy for the Viral Baby Monkey 'Punch'

A baby Japanese macaque named Punch has captured the world’s attention after being abandoned by his mother shortly after birth at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. Videos and photos of him clinging to a stuffed orangutan plush toy as a source of emotional comfort quickly went viral, sparking widespread affection and support on social media.

The dramatic images have drawn crowds to the zoo and even prompted IKEA Japan to donate additional plush toys to ensure Punch always has a comfort object nearby.

Punch’s story, complete with hashtags like #HangInTherePunch, has helped him become an unlikely symbol of resilience and emotional connection, transcending cultural and language barriers as millions around the globe cheer for the young macaque’s wellbeing.

Yet amid the online outpouring of empathy, a growing chorus of netizens has criticised what they see as a double standard in global sympathy, arguing that vast public concern over an adorable animal contrasts sharply with much more muted reactions to far greater human suffering, particularly among children caught in conflict zones.

Critics on platforms like X and Instagram have drawn comparisons to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where tens of thousands of children have been killed, wounded, or orphaned amid prolonged conflict.

According to a report from April 2025 by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, more than 39,000 children in Gaza have lost one or both parents since hostilities intensified, a crisis some commentators describe as the largest orphan catastrophe in modern history.

Humanitarian organisations and reports depict a bleak reality for children in Gaza, where thousands of families have been ripped apart and many children endure displacement, trauma, malnutrition and loss of basic services. UNICEF has flagged the devastating impact of prolonged hostilities on the physical and mental wellbeing of Gaza’s youth, highlighting the need for urgent protection and support.

Many online users have responded to the Punch phenomenon by questioning why a solitary animal’s heart-tugging story can generate massive empathy, viral merchandising and social media virality, while the daily struggles and suffering of human children in war-torn regions often receive comparatively limited coverage or emotional engagement in popular online discourse. Some have described the disparity as reflective of “selective compassion” in global media and social networks.

One widely shared comment on X read: “We all love Punch, but where’s the same energy for children whose families are gone and futures broken by war?” Others reposted links to statistics on Gaza’s orphaned children alongside memes of Punch to underscore the contrast in public sentiment.

These debates underscore broader discussions about how digital empathy is expressed and what kinds of stories capture global attention, and why deeply human crises sometimes struggle to break through the noise of viral internet culture.

As the conversation continues, many users are urging a more sustained focus on humanitarian needs that extend far beyond heart-warming animal videos.

In this context, Punch’s popularity has become more than a feel-good meme; it’s a catalyst for critical reflection on how we as a global community allocate sympathy, attention and advocacy in an era dominated by viral content.