Google Features Animated Tribute to Viral Japanese Macaque Punch the Monkey

Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, has become a global internet sensation after being abandoned by his mother. To provide comfort, zookeepers gave him an orangutan plush toy, which he clings to, sparking widespread online empathy. This viral story inspired Google to create an Easter egg animation of cascading hearts and a monkey icon when users search "Punch the monkey," reflecting the worldwide affection and increased zoo visitors drawn by the phenomenon.