Overview
- Clips shared since March 11 show Punch cuddling and touching noses with a female macaque dubbed Momo‑chan or Moe, though the zoo has not verified her identity or any “girlfriend” label.
- Ichikawa City Zoo announced updated guidance on March 19 asking visitors to limit front‑row viewing of Monkey Mountain to about 10 minutes and to avoid livestreams or filming staff at work.
- Zoo officials say Punch is interacting more with the troop and relying less on his stuffed orangutan, with observed grooming, play and affiliative behavior alongside occasional use of the plush.
- Earlier this month, some higher‑ranking macaques that showed more frequent aggression were temporarily removed, with staff emphasizing that physical discipline is typical in macaque hierarchies.
- Daily attendance has surged to roughly 2,000–3,000 visitors—around ten times the winter off‑season norm—while animal‑welfare critics continue to question captive management practices.