The number of foreigners has increased, and mothers are becoming more distant… Changes seen in “Punch-kun,” a baby monkey, in the first month since his “big fever.

The unprecedented fever did not cool down even after a month had passed.

On February 5, the Ichikawa Zoo and Botanical Garden posted a message on its official website, “Please warmly watch over Punch’s growth! and posted a photo of a baby monkey holding a stuffed orangutan (a.k.a. “orang mama”). The tweet spread quickly, and from mid-February, visitors began flocking to the exhibit to see Punch-kun. Punch-kun fever” swept the Japanese archipelago, with daily coverage on TV.

One month has passed since then. A photographer from FRIDAY Digital visited the event to find out how Punch-kun’s popularity is faring.

The atmosphere was like that of an idol venue.

Although it was a weekday on the day we visited, many visitors had been surrounding the monkey mountain since the morning. Even a cursory look around would indicate that there were probably more than 100 people there. There were many families with children, and a boy of elementary school age, who was near the photographer, was with his mother,

I can’t wait to see it, Punch-kun.

I can’t wait to see him! I can’t wait to see him!

There was also a group of female fans chasing the camera. There was also a group of female fans who shared real-time information with their friends, such as, “He was in the monkey mountain a while ago, but he is still back in the breeding room. Is he sleeping in the back now? Which one is Punch? It was a very peaceful scene.

It was a peaceful scene.

　”Ahhh!　It’s Punch!　It’s out!

Beyond the cheers, a small baby monkey emerged from the doorway of the rearing house. Holding on to his orang mama in his right hand, he looked just like Punch.

Many visitors followed his every move. Yellow cheers fly overhead, and the monkey mountain is filled with excitement like an idol’s live concert. Punch-kun, oblivious to the cheers, left Orang-mama behind and ran around the monkey mountain, cuddling and grooming some of the monkeys. It seems that he is gradually getting used to the group.

The number of foreign tourists was increasing rapidly.

Punch is actively trying to communicate with the monkeys around him, but some of the larger monkeys may not be so friendly and may move away from him when they see him approaching. Some of the monkeys made hostile gestures toward Punch-kun, but some of them held him close to them as if they were protecting him. They may not be the same as their own mothers, but they acted as if they were family,

Some visitors were relieved to see the monkey’s gesture and said, “I’m so happy for you, Punch-kun.

Some visitors were moved to tears, saying, “I’m so happy for you, Punch-kun. It was as if “the whole country cried.

When Punch-kun grabbed the chain and tried to climb up, a monkey beside him took over as if to say, “Hey, I’m first. Punch’s hand slipped and he fell off his back. “Is this the bully in the video? ……” he thought, but then he and Punch-kun were working together. Apparently, he is a recently made friend. He may have been setting an example by saying, “Hey, Punch, you have to hold on to the chain like this and make love to it.

The number of visitors continued to increase after Punch-kun’s appearance before noon. What was interesting was the large number of visitors from abroad. In the afternoon, about 30% of the audience were foreigners! Baby Punch” and other cheers were heard. French, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and other languages could also be heard, and it was clear to see that Punch’s popularity is spreading around the world.

By 3:00 p.m., the monkeys began to gather in front of the breeding room door. It was feeding time. When the two keepers appeared from inside, there was an even louder cheer. Punch-kun was the only one who jumped on the keeper who was distributing food to the monkeys, and he held on to the keeper’s legs and arms, refusing to leave the room.

When feeding time was over, Punch-kun and another good friend of his climbed up the side of the monkey mountain with Orang-mama in tow – and the next moment, there was a scream from the crowd. The next moment, there was a scream from the crowd: Orang-mama had fallen off the cliff. Oh my god! Aiyah! and other screams in foreign languages were also heard.

But Punch showed no sign of concern for Orang-mama. He spent more than an hour with his friends, cuddling up to the monkeys who had become good friends with him. He did not return to Orang Mama until closing time that day.

Punch’s popularity in the Southeast Asian region also seems to be tremendous. A popular Filipino comedian who was visiting Japan for an event made an impromptu visit to Punch, which was featured on a local news program. It has already been more than half a year since Punch was born last July. Japanese macaques begin to grow apart from their parents after six months, so Punch will also gradually grow apart from his orang-mama. However, this means that Punch will become an adult. We hope you will continue to watch his growth.

The official SNS of the Ichikawa Zoo and Botanical Garden also reports day after day on the progress of the baby monkeys, saying that they have made friends and have become accustomed to being in a group. Behind the backdrop of his unchanging popularity, Punch-kun seems to be steadily climbing the stairs to adulthood.