Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden marked Punch’s first birthday as the young Japanese macaque drew a wave of messages from fans around the world.
About 2,500 birthday cards arrived from inside and outside Japan for the orphaned monkey, whose story spread widely after photos showed him clinging to an orangutan plushie.
Punch no longer relies on the toy and now has monkey companions, signaling a change from the early months when his struggle for comfort and acceptance resonated with visitors.
Born a year ago and abandoned by his mother, Punch has become one of Japan’s best-known zoo animals, with his birthday underscoring his global following.