Ichikawa Zoo Opens Global Donation Drive for Viral Macaque Punch Through May 31

Overview

• Zoo officials published a “Gambare Punch” supporter guide and shared an official donation link on March 16, enabling direct transfers without intermediaries.
• Managers say contributions are not limited to Punch’s needs and are earmarked for broader facility improvements, specialized feeding, and veterinary care.
• Punch’s fame has fueled commercialization such as plush toys and shirts, with EFE reporting about 8,000 visitors over one weekend to see the young macaque.
• Current attendance runs roughly 2,000–3,000 visitors per day with many foreign tourists, according to figures cited by AFP in new on-the-ground reporting.
• Public reaction remains divided, with criticism from animal-rights voices, as the zoo reports Punch is gradually adapting and increasingly less reliant on his plush toy.