Punch the monkey, an adorable macaque born in Japan last July, recently caught the world’s attention. He was abandoned by his mother and rejected by his community, only to find solace and comfort in a $20 orangutan plush toy from IKEA. His story touched the hearts of people around the world who felt bad for the little boy and wanted him to find companionship.
He finally did, and Punch’s chances are now apparently better. But Punch still lives in a zoo – the Ichikawa City Zoo – and that doesn’t sit well with everyone. In a new video game, Zoo Fighter, players take on the role of Punch and … punch bullies with their fists or sharp kicks. Knock out 100 and Punch will end up in a shelter instead of a zoo. And that’s the point of the video game.
“This game is a love letter to all the animals that bid adieu to zoos. Animal sanctuaries are often better for primates than zoos because they prioritize animal well-being over public display,” reads a line from the game’s description. “They offer larger, more natural spaces and protect animals from neglect or confinement rather than breeding them,” the description continues. “The focus is on lifelong care and less human intervention, giving primates a safer, less stressful place to live.”
Continue reading at GameSpot
