Has viral monkey Punch died? Zoo closure fuels rumours; no official confirmation

TOKYO: Punch, the young macaque from Ichikawa City Zoo in Tokyo, is a monkey few would have forgotten. His heartbreaking story of being shunned by his mother and other monkeys touched people around the world, turning him into a viral sensation and earning him a huge fan following.

Now, Punch is once again at the centre of social media discussions, with claims that the popular monkey has died. However, there is no evidence so far to confirm the reports.

The rumours began after Punch was no longer seen at the zoo. The temporary closure of the Monkey Mountain viewing area, where Punch lived, further fuelled speculation. Ichikawa City Zoo had announced that Monkey Mountain would remain closed from September 1 to 18 to allow sunshades to be installed.

However, some social media users claimed that the area was closed because Punch's health had deteriorated.

A video reportedly filmed before Monkey Mountain was closed shows Punch walking normally and playing in the water. Based on the footage, some people have said there appears to be no indication that he was unwell. The zoo authorities have not yet released any official information about Punch's current health condition.