Punch, the stuffed animal-snuggling Japanese cub who has become a global internet sensation, will celebrate his first birthday on Sunday as his zoo is inundated with fan mail from around the world.
Abandoned by his mother and rejected by some of his peers, the young macaque achieved fame after being seen clinging to an IKEA stuffed orangutan toy for comfort at the Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo.
In February, the zoo began posting video posts on social media of Punch’s bumbling attempts to join his troop, spawning a dedicated fan base under the hashtag #HangIn TherePunch.
He is growing well, is in good health and is now playing with others, zoo spokesman Takashi Yasunaga told AFP on Friday.
“He’s talking less and less to the orangutan doll. He’s interacting with other animals and playing with other monkeys,” he said.
“He strengthens his position as a member of the group.”
The zoo, which previously saw no more than a few hundred visitors a day, has become a hotspot for thousands of local and foreign fans.
The establishment was also inundated with calls and emails, with some praising its efforts but many criticizing the way Punch was being run.
Around 2,500 greeting cards from around the world were displayed ahead of Sunday.
“Punch was all over TikTok. The videos kept appearing. He’s so cute. And my girlfriend loves him. I love him,” American tourist Sarren Eilers said Friday.
“I saw him on video and decided that I had to come and see him in person. You know?”
Punch’s celebrity has at times attracted the wrong kind of attention: in May, American YouTubers broke into the monkeys’ enclosure, and last month, an unknown person aimed a laser pointer at the animals.
Meanwhile, the zoo used Punch’s celebrity to raise donations, raising 58 million yen (US$350,000) by mid-July, which went toward the purchase of a new air conditioning system.
“Thanks to Punch’s popularity, the entire group (of monkeys) and the entire zoo have improved conditions,” Yasunaga said.
Punch now spends the day resting in the shade, becoming more active in the cool early evening hours.
Local fan Junko Hara, 38, said Punch was “very strong and resilient.”
“He just doesn’t get discouraged. I support his resilience and watching him is also very encouraging,” Jara told AFP.
Another fan, Yukie Mibayashi, 66, said: “People all over the world are supporting Punch, so I want to tell him, ‘Everyone is looking at you. Continue!”
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