Punch, the monkey who was abandoned by his mother after being born, is growing up.
He celebrated his first birthday on Sunday with about 2,500 cards from around the world. The letters are on display in a lecture room at the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden along with a video telling the story of Punch and his early days.
Zookeepers cared for Punch by nursing him and giving him an orangutan plushie to help him develop his gripping ability, something newborn macaques need to survive.
Other monkeys at the zoo initially rejected baby Punch, who would rush to his toy and hug it for comfort. Punch’s cuteness earned him thousands of fans in Japan and beyond, but it was his struggle to be accepted by others that won over people’s hearts.
Catch up quickly every weekday morning with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories. Sign up for The 7 newsletter.
The post Punch the monkey, once abandoned, gets 2,500 cards for his first birthday appeared first on Washington Post.
