Wise Giving Wednesday: What Punch the Monkey’s Viral Story Reminds Us About Wildlife Conservation

When a viral animal story captures the internet’s attention, it can do more than spark a moment of sympathy—it can also shine a light on the important work of wildlife conservation charities dedicated to protecting animals and their habitats.

Punch the Monkey’s Viral Story Captures the Internet’s Attention

Punch the Monkey (Panchi-jun in Japanese), a baby macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, has taken the internet by storm in recent weeks.

A viral video shows Punch, abandoned by his mother at birth, being scolded by a larger monkey and then retreating to cuddle a stuffed IKEA orangutan (given to him by zoo staff to cope with his loneliness).

Responses blended sympathy for Punch’s treatment at the hands of the elder primate with “cuteness overload” at his bond with his stuffed friend, evoking Linus from Peanuts with his security blanket.

Sales of the $20 IKEA orangutan like Punch’s skyrocketed. Predictably, the stuffed animal and other “Punch” products soon hit eBay, Etsy and other online marketplaces, often for a much higher price tag.

How Viral Animal Stories Can Inspire Interest in Wildlife Conservation

What if the viral marketing “Punch power” generated in recent weeks could be harnessed to support wildlife causes? (Imagine Tony the Tiger or Chester the Cheetah supporting causes for tigers and cheetahs.)

Whether through cause marketing, awareness campaigns, or educational programing, such momentum could be channeled into meaningful conservation impact.

This week, we’d like to highlight the work of wildlife conservation charities, with the hope that Punch’s story can serve as inspiration.

How Charities Work to Protect Animals Around the World

Like the Japanese zookeepers, sometimes with Punch clinging to their legs, countless charity workers have dedicated their lives to wildlife conservation and animal welfare.

Charities help protect chimpanzees and other primates, elephants, wolves, migratory birds, bears, marine life, and many other species.

They advocate for new legislation, strive to uphold existing laws, manage and conserve land, and educate the public on environmental issues, among other countless initiatives they lead to protect our natural world. 

Examples of BBB Accredited Charities Supporting Wildlife and Animal Welfare

Below are a few examples of how BBB Accredited Charities are making a difference:

• Animal Welfare Institute supports efforts to prevent commercial exploitation of marine life, including the use of drift nets, blast fishing, and brutal practice of shark finning. This charity also works to protect marine habitats from pollution, coastal development, ocean noise, ship collisions, and other threats.
• Defenders of Wildlife advocates to combat invasive species, such as the spotted lanternfly, an insect native to China that threatens fruit trees, timber, and ornamentals across much of the East Coast and Midwest. The organization also addresses the Burmese Python, which preys on native species in South Florida, including the Key Largo woodrat
• International Animal Rescue partners with a local organization in Armenia to rescue and rehabilitate Syrian brown bears suffering from both physical and psychological trauma after being illegally held in small cages, used for entertainment, or kept as pets. Once rescued, the bears are placed in enriched habitats, fed a proper diet, and, if possible, released back into the wild
• Wildlife Conservation Network works with organizations around the globe to protect species, like the brown-headed spider monkey in Ecuador, through land acquisition and sustainable farming practices. The network also supports conservation of the rare Andean cat in the mountains of Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Chile by providing local women with environmentally sustainable income through traditional weaving, replacing activities that disrupt the cat’s habitat. The organization also helps protect Irrawaddy dolphins and the dugong (a relative of the manatee) in Malaysia by training locals in safe release techniques and deploying acoustic pingers to reduce bycatch.

Find More Trusted Wildlife Conservation Charities to Support

There are thousands of charities working to protect wildlife in the United States and around the world. As always, we recommend checking whether an organization meets our 20 Standards for Charity Accountability before you give.

The pages below offer helpful information about wildlife conservation and include lists of trusted charities you can support with confidence:

• Environmental Charities: Review a full list of BBB Accredited Charities working to protect wildlife habitats, ecosystems and natural resources, and learn more about how these organizations help conserve our environment.
• Animal Charities: Review a full list of BBB Accredited Charities dedicated to protecting animals and promoting animal welfare, and learn how these organizations support wildlife and humane treatment.

*Update: Punch seems to be making progress and having increasingly positive interactions with other macaques at the zoo. While there’s nothing wrong with an emotional support “stuffie,” we hope Punch continues to socialize and bond with his troupe.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:

• American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America
• Quiet Hour

Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.