Is Punch the monkey right? Here are the latest updates.

At this point, Punch the monkey no longer belongs in the zoo. You belong to the Internet.

A 7-month-old macaque at the Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo first contracted the virus from clinging to a stuffed animal after being abandoned by its mother. (He was just depressed!) People quickly guessed him – his loneliness, his stubbornness, his need for comfort. They root for him like the Chosen One in a modern day fantasy novel.

And like any good protagonist, people want updates. Many of them. So we are here to provide them for you. For example, just look at this recent clip of Punch jumping the fence:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

Anxiety about Punch reached such a fever pitch that even humorous criticism of him did not go down well. When comedian Jon Stewart talked about Punch during a recent taping of the The Daily Showmembers of the audience scoffed at the suggestion of anything bad happening to the baby monkey. The time was short, but meaningful.

Despite his name, people don’t want the little monkey to be the punchline. They want him to be safe. They want him to be happy. Above all, they want him to behave well.

So, what is Punch doing now?

According to recent updates from visitors to the Ichikawa City Zoo, Punch continues to slowly integrate with the other macaques.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

He still has his stuffed animal – his emotional support orangutan from IKEA and the thing that made him famous – but he also spends a lot of time exploring his enclosure and interacting with the other monkeys. He has even found himself a security guard in an enclosure.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

According to an update dated Feb. 23 from one of his keepers, Punch has been having a lot of fun with the other little monkeys in the enclosure.

“From what I saw, there were no scenes of him being scolded, and he was seen playing with other monkeys,” the keeper wrote on X’s official account. “During the meal, he got off the goalkeeper’s feet and started eating alone. He continues to do well.”

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

That last detail is especially important. For the first five months of his life, Punch was hand-raised by zoo staff, forming a close bond with the keepers who fed and cared for him. During feeding time, he used to stick to them to relax instead of eating with other monkeys. Now, he is starting to let go.

Choosing to eat alone may seem like a small step. But for Punch, it’s a sign of something much bigger: independence. Growing confidence. Proof that you are slowly learning to be a monkey among other monkeys.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

There are other small but tangible signs of progress, too. In recent videos shared by zoogoers, Punch can be seen learning to groom himself by watching a larger monkey carefully pick up the fur of another and mimic the social behavior that helps macaques bond.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

In another clip, Punch walks forward on two legs, stick in hand. The posture is moving, almost like a child’s. And it’s really lovely.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

He also learned how to open doors – a wonderful new skill.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. Either it is loading or it has already been downloaded.

How can you help Punch?

The outpouring of concern for Punch has been so strong that people have started asking how they can help or donate directly to the Ichikawa City Zoo.

In a recent post on its official social media accounts, the zoo said it had received “many inquiries” about sending money or goods to support Punch and the zoo. Details about the official donation program will be announced soon, the zoo said.

But officials also issued a clear warning: any fundraising efforts not announced through the zoo’s official channels are not authorized.

“Without the announcements made here, the various activities in support of our zoo or Punch called in different ways are not yet officially approved,” the zoo wrote. “Please know that we cannot be held responsible for any problems that may arise.”

Punch’s story has become so global that the zoo says it’s getting a lot of calls from overseas. Staff noted that they were unable to answer questions in languages ​​other than Japanese, a sign of how widespread concern is for the young macaque and her Oran Mama plushie.

So, TL;DR — Don’t abuse the zoo. Punch does OK. You can all exhale now.