Fans are relieved as officials recently shared good news that "Punch," the orphaned monkey at a Japanese zoo who became a social media sensation, is now more social and has started to stop relying on his comfort doll.
Good news has warmed the hearts of Punch's fans. Officials at the Ichikawa Zoo in Japan reported that Punch is using his doll less and spending more time with other monkeys. Photos show him climbing on the back of a larger monkey, sitting with the troop, and sometimes being groomed or hugged by others, signaling positive progress in adapting to monkey social life after previously being isolated and dependent on a large orangutan doll as comfort.
Previously, images of Punch dragging a doll larger than himself around the zoo touched hearts worldwide. Whenever other monkeys chased him away or rejected him, Punch would quickly return to hugging his favorite doll for consolation.
Sanae Izumi, a 61-year-old fan from Osaka who traveled to the zoo out of concern for the monkey, said she feels very happy to see Punch growing like this. It gives her relief, and he is truly adorable.
Kosuke Kano, a 24-year-old zoo caretaker, said, "Our most important mission is to help Punch learn the rules of monkey society and gain acceptance within the troop."
Punch's story went viral online last month, attracting large crowds to the zoo. This led the zoo to implement rules requiring visitors to reduce noise and limit viewing time to just 10 minutes to prevent stress among the more than 50 monkeys in the area.
Shigekazu Mizushina, the zoo director, said that Punch beginning to rely less on his doll is a good sign. When he stops needing the doll, it means he is learning to depend on himself, which is what they hope for.
Although Punch still sleeps hugging his doll every night, caretakers hope that in the future he will sleep curled up with other monkeys in the troop, marking an important step in his growth and true social life among monkeys.
. Source:Channelnewsasia
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