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In this fast-paced world, viral characters come and go (remember Moo Deng?), but there's a little monkey out there who's still in our hearts: Punch. The baby Japanese macaque made massive waves worldwide earlier this year, with images of him and his orangutan plushie racking up millions of views across social media. (If you somehow missed the whole spectacle, read our recap of the Punch the monkey saga to get up to speed.)
The popular primate garnered so much attention online that the zoo where he's located, Ichikawa Zoo just over an hour from Tokyo, began to see a massive spike in real-world attendance. The zoo subsequently started a fundraising campaign in mid-March, receiving over ¥19 million from gracious donors worldwide by the end of the month.
If you care to donate, you still can – Ichikawa Zoo is accepting donations until May 31. The funds raised aren't exclusively for Punch, of course, but go toward the upkeep of the zoo's facilities in general, including the enclosure where Punch resides.
The bilingual guide on how to donate can be found on the official Ichikawa Zoo website here. By the way, we hear that Punch is doing much better, and though he doesn't depend on his iconic plushie anymore, he just might appreciate it if you pay him a visit anyway. Long live Punch!
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