WASHINGTON (March 18, 2026) – A monkey known as Punch has gone viral after his behavior was labeled as highly emotional, sparking widespread conversation about animal welfare and captivity. Experts say the reaction highlights the trend of humans projecting emotions onto animals, typically without understanding the behavioral or environmental context.
Carson Murray, associate professor of anthropology at the George Washington University, is available to provide insight into primate behavior and the science behind anthropomorphism. Her research focuses on social relationships among primates and how stress and environment shape behavior.
Sims Patton, a PhD candidate in Murray’s lab with experience working with captive primates, is also available to discuss how environment and human interaction influence behavior.
To schedule an interview, contact Claire Sabin at claire [dot] sabin
gwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-