ICHIKAWA, Japan — A small monkey named Punch, who captured hearts worldwide by clutching an orangutan stuffed animal for comfort, is celebrating his first birthday at a Japanese zoo — and fans from across the globe have been sending their warm wishes.
Punch came into the world a year ago on Sunday, only to be abandoned by his mother shortly after birth — likely due to exhaustion from the delivery. Zoo staff stepped in to care for him and provided the plush toy to help him develop the gripping strength that newborn macaques must have in order to survive.
Today, the once-tiny infant has grown into a young monkey who is nearly indistinguishable from his companions as he runs and plays in his enclosure at the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden. Gone are the days of the chubby baby clutching his beloved toy.
Even so, Punch still draws large crowds and has received approximately 2,500 birthday cards from fans both inside and outside Japan, according to Takashi Yasunaga, the zoo’s director. Many of those cards and messages now line the walls of a special indoor birthday exhibit, where visitors can also watch video footage documenting Punch’s journey from his very first days.
