The atmosphere at Ishikawa City Zoo near Tokyo is unusually lively as hundreds of fans have flocked to see "Punch-kun," a six-month-old Japanese snow monkey who has gone viral worldwide online.
Images of Punch-kun clinging tightly to a zoo staff member with a forlorn expression, dragging a long-armed orangutan doll everywhere as if it were his only friend after being ignored by his biological mother since birth, have gone viral worldwide. This has led many people to send encouragement to the little monkey to help him overcome his loneliness.
Punch's lonely plight sparked widespread sympathy on social media, leading to the hashtag #HangInTherePunch and a close following of his life by fans. This viral attention has also greatly energized Ishikawa City Zoo near Tokyo, as fans continuously visit to support the little monkey.
Last Friday morning, over 100 visitors gathered in front of the monkey enclosure. Some shouted encouragements like "Keep fighting, Punch!" as the young monkey tried to approach other members of the troop.
Sayaka Takimoto, 32, drove over two hours with her husband specifically to see Punch. She said she usually doesn’t visit zoos often, but she and her husband wanted to see Punch’s cuteness in person. She added that the clip of him dragging the doll was very endearing.
Yoko, a 50-year-old fan, said she studied pictures of Punch in advance so she could recognize him. She affirmed that he is very cute and had to come see him in person, though she admitted feeling a bit sad that he is growing up so fast. Still, she felt relieved to see that he is starting to make friends.
According to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun, Punch’s mother may have neglected him because it was her first litter or due to exhaustion from the summer heat. As a result, staff have been raising the baby monkey in a simulated environment since July.
Normally, baby Japanese snow monkeys cling to their mothers for warmth and muscle development. Without his mother’s embrace, the zoo tried substitutes such as towels or other stuffed animals. However, Punch chose a long-armed orangutan doll, which zoo staff told Fuji TV might be because it resembles another monkey.
Last month, staff began training Punch to reintegrate with the monkey troop. Earlier this month, good news arrived that he was starting to adapt. The zoo revealed that Punch has begun playfully teasing his peers and is occasionally scolded, which are signs of natural socialization.
However, some fans have expressed concern after a video circulated showing Punch being dragged by a fully grown monkey.
The zoo issued a statement asking the public to support Punch’s socialization efforts, assuring that the troop is not exhibiting aggressive behavior. While Punch may be scolded by other monkeys, this shows his mental strength and resilience.
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