Punch the Monkey Turns One: Global Fan Mail Fuels a Zoo Revival

Punch, an orphaned macaque born in July 2025 at the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden, was given an IKEA orangutan plushie to develop his gripping ability after his mother abandoned him. Zoo staff posted videos of the infant clinging to the toy in February 2026, and the hashtag #HangInTherePunch quickly spread on TikTok and other platforms. The lone-baby narrative resonated with viewers worldwide, drawing tens of thousands of visitors, many from overseas, to the once-quiet zoo.

UsNews and World Report

Punch’s first birthday is scheduled for July 26. By July 24 zoo officials had assembled roughly 2,500 birthday cards from fans in Japan and abroad on a dedicated indoor wall. Visitors such as Kobe resident Kumi Ishizawa, who recovered from illness to see Punch, and long-time city resident Yeye Lights, who now holds an annual pass, joined the celebration, bringing cakes and personal messages. The exhibit also features a video montage of Punch’s first year.

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The surge in attention transformed the zoo’s attendance, which previously peaked at a few hundred daily visitors, into a hotspot for thousands of local and international guests. Leveraging the monkey’s popularity, the zoo raised 58 million yen (? S$457,000) by mid-July, funding a new air-conditioning system that benefits the entire primate group. Punch, now integrated with roughly 50 other monkeys, spends afternoons resting in shade and is increasingly active during cooler evenings.

The Straits Times

He added that the fundraising success has improved conditions for all monkeys and the broader facility.

The Straits Times

• “As Punch was trying very hard struggling to live each day, his two keepers did everything they can while other staff watched over him,” — Takashi Yasunaga, zoo official

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• “He is less and less turning to the orangutan doll. He is communicating with other animals and playing with other baby monkeys,” — Takashi Yasunaga, zoo official

The Straits Times

• “Thanks to Punch’s popularity, the entire group (of monkeys) and the entire zoo have benefitted from improved conditions,” — Takashi Yasunaga, zoo official

The Straits Times

• “I have a cake for Punch-kun, I'm celebrating with my friends,” — Yeye Lights

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• “He just doesn’t get discouraged. I support that resilience of his and watching him really cheers me up too,” — Junko Hara

The Straits Times