Punch, a plush-clutching Japanese baby monkey that has become a global online sensation, will celebrate his first birthday tomorrow as his zoo is flooded with fan letters from around the world.
Abandoned by his mother and spurned by some peers, the young macaque shot to stardom after he was seen clinging to a plush orang utan toy from Ikea for comfort at Ichikawa City Zoo outside Tokyo.
In February, the zoo started releasing social media video posts about Punch’s clumsy efforts to join his troop, spawning a dedicated fanbase under the hashtag #HangInTherePunch.
He is growing well, in good health and is now playing with others, zoo official Takashi Yasunaga said yesterday.
“He is less and less turning to the orang utan doll. He is communicating with other animals and playing with other baby monkeys,” he said.
“He is building his position as a member of the group.”
The zoo, which previously saw at most a few hundred visitors a day, became a hotspot for thousands of local and international fans.
Ahead of Punch’s birthday tomorrow, some 2,500 birthday cards from around the world were put on display.
Local fan Junko Hara, 38, said Punch is “very strong and resilient”.
“He just doesn’t get discouraged.
“I support that resilience of his and watching him really cheers me up too,” said Hara.
Another fan, 66-year-old Yukie Mibayashi, said, “People all around the world are supporting Punch, so I want to tell him, ‘Everyone’s watching you. Keep going!’” — AFP
