Home / Arts and Entertainment / Tate Offers $250K for Viral Monkey, Sparks Ethics Debate
Tate Offers $250K for Viral Monkey, Sparks Ethics Debate
22 Feb
Summary
- Tristan Tate offered $250,000 to purchase a baby macaque named Punch.
- Punch was rejected by his mother and bonded with a stuffed orangutan toy.
- The offer ignited a debate on animal welfare and ethical considerations.
Tristan Tate, brother of Andrew Tate, has publicly offered $250,000 to acquire Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque. Punch became an internet sensation after videos showed him clinging to a stuffed orangutan toy, a bond formed after his mother rejected him shortly after birth in July 2025.
Zoo staff provided Punch with a plush orangutan, named Ora-mama, for comfort and security. This unique attachment garnered global sympathy, prompting Tristan Tate's substantial offer to purchase the primate. He stated his intention was not a joke.
However, Tate's offer has become a focal point for a heated online discussion. While some users lauded the gesture as a potential rescue, others raised significant ethical questions. Concerns were voiced about the practicality and morality of buying a protected primate from a zoo, especially given ongoing efforts for Punch to integrate with other monkeys at Ichikawa City Zoo.
