People from all over the world are visiting Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo after a video of seven-month-old macaque monkey Punch went viral on social media. A Pakistani man recently visited a zoo and shared some information that is currently trending. clipintroduced the large crowds that gathered to catch a glimpse of the little punch.
A video by a user who described the crowd as “crazy” showed the crowd sitting near a railing above the enclosure where Panchi and other monkeys lived. Dozens of people were seen holding up cellphones and recording while Punch clutched a small stuffed orangutan for emotional support, which has now become his signature accessory.
“I want to tell you that Punch was fine when I saw him. Despite the insane crowd, the zoo reacted normally. I know you have a lot of questions in your mind. But at this time, the zoo cannot deprive people of seeing Punch. More people are checking on Punch’s condition,” Izaz wrote.
As of last update, the video had more than 4.5 million views and hundreds of comments from social media users urging zoo authorities to improve the facility so Punch and other monkeys could live in better conditions.
One user said: “That little brother doesn’t even know about his fan base,” while another added: “If only he knew how much Punch is loved all over the world.”
A third commented: “I really hope the zoo management will improve the facilities, add more trees, maybe build a pond, and create a more natural environment for the monkeys to live in a space that more closely reflects their natural habitat.”
A fourth said: “Couldn’t that extra income be used to improve the facilities within that enclosure? It’s pretty barbaric how stripped down it is. Literally, there’s a fake concrete tree in the middle of a concrete lot, precisely designed to be a sympathy theater for people to stand and watch.”
Also read | Boss regrets losing ‘best employee’ over refusal to work from home: ‘I approve all requests now’
Punch and stuffed orangutan
Punch first made headlines after a zookeeper introduced him to a monkey enclosure. His early attempts to integrate into society fail as other monkeys ignore him or behave violently. Punch’s only solace was a large stuffed orangutan given to him by staff as a tool to build muscle and act as a mother.
The Ichikawa Zoo and Botanical Garden released a statement on Friday, February 20, detailing how social dynamics among the monkeys led to the current situation. The zoo added that Punch has been scolded many times by other monkeys and is learning how to get along with them.