KidNuz: News for Kids 02.26.2026
Feb 26, 2026
A baby monkey bonding story and how it found new monkey friends. Discovery of a massive 360-foot coral colony on the Great Barrier Reef. A 23-foot snowman becoming a local sensation. A list of diverse Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees. Return of hundreds of captive-bred giant tortoises to the Galapagos. A viral double chocolate mint sundae craze at Costco.
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Monkey Punch Bonded With A Stuffed Orangutan
- Punch bonded to a stuffed orangutan when he struggled to connect with other macaques at Ichikawa Zoo near Tokyo.
- The plushie went viral, sold out at IKEA, and zookeepers say Punch now grooms and plays with baby monkeys, showing social progress.
World's Largest Coral Colony Found On Great Barrier Reef
- Divers Jan Pope and Sophie Kalkowski-Pope found a coral colony about 360 feet long on the Great Barrier Reef.
- The colony's footprint is ~42,765 sq ft, about three times larger than typical colonies of that species, prompting scientific study.
Family Builds 23-Foot Snowman Parker
- Eric Allerud built a snowman named Parker in Shirley, Massachusetts, that grew to 23 feet tall using hosing and storms to keep him frozen.
- Parker is 25 feet wide at the base, decorated with lights, stopped traffic, and may become an annual tradition.