Punch, a Japanese macaque, stole the hearts of millions after he was abandoned by his mom and rejected by some of his peers. Now, things are looking up for him.

Born Free, the wildlife charity, has warned that Punch's viral fame could do more harm than good—for him and for his species.

If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, you might have come across a small, furry macaque, solemnly lugging a slightly larger orangutan toy with him everywhere he goes. That would be ...