Panchi-kun's Soaring Popularity Prompts Zoo to Temporarily Withhold Other Monkey Information for Animal Welfare
During Japan's Golden Week holidays, 'Panchi-kun,' a charming Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture who carries a stuffed animal, attracted massive crowds. Although two new macaque babies were recently born, the zoo announced it would temporarily withhold information about other individual monkeys, excluding Panchi-kun, due to animal welfare concerns amidst high public attention.
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- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 12:12
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Central News Agency
(CNA reporter Dai Ya-chen, Tokyo, 4th) During Japan's Golden Week holidays, 'Panchi-kun' (パンチ), a Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture who holds a stuffed animal and has an adorable demeanor, attracted large numbers of visitors, causing the zoo to be overcrowded. Although two new macaque babies were recently added to the park, the zoo announced that, due to intense external scrutiny and animal welfare considerations, it would temporarily refrain from disclosing individual information about monkeys other than Panchi-kun.
Panchi-kun became popular after being abandoned by his mother as an infant and raised artificially. He is always seen carrying a stuffed orangutan, even sleeping nestled against it, as if it were his mother. This sight, both cute and poignant, went viral after being featured in the media.
During Golden Week, a large number of tourists flocked to Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden, and the park and surrounding parking lots were at times overwhelmed. The zoo updated real-time entry conditions daily via its social media platform X to keep the public informed.
However, the surge in popularity also brought subsequent effects. In recent months, the zoo has issued multiple reminders, including preventing fraudulent fundraising messages, avoiding prolonged conversations with zookeepers, and prohibiting live streaming. More recently, it issued a further statement regarding animal welfare.
The zoo noted that one male and one female Japanese macaque baby were born on April 20 and 26, respectively, and have not yet been named. Considering the stability of the monkey troop and animal welfare, the zoo will temporarily stop disclosing individual information about monkeys other than Panchi-kun.
The zoo stated that since Panchi-kun gained global attention, it has received inquiries and concerns from various places, involving Panchi-kun's biological parents, individuals who received artificial rearing, and members of the monkey troop that interacted with Panchi-kun, including those who previously pulled or displayed aggressive behavior towards Panchi-kun, as well as those who played with him.
The zoo explained that in the past, introducing each animal's name, personality, and growth background helped enhance public understanding and emotional connection with animals, while also learning about their habits. Panchi-kun gained widespread global attention and popularity precisely because of this information dissemination. However, as support for Panchi-kun grew, negative emotions, including hostility and hatred, also arose towards other members of the monkey troop.
The zoo emphasized that the highest priority at present is to help Panchi-kun successfully integrate into the monkey troop. To this end, the zoo continues to observe and take necessary measures, such as temporarily separating some individuals from the group on March 8 this year.
The zoo pointed out that once individual names are disclosed, it may trigger numerous requests both domestically and internationally to 'protect or isolate specific individuals,' which would severely interfere with the zoo's operations and zookeepers' work, and even affect the overall animal care situation.
The zoo stated, 'Whether it's Panchi-kun or other monkeys, we continue to care for them with love and responsibility. To provide a stable environment for the monkey mountain, we choose to temporarily not disclose the names and personalities of individuals other than Panchi-kun, and we will not respond to related inquiries.'
Additionally, the zoo reminded that a large amount of information about Panchi-kun and his surroundings is circulating on social networks, including statements allegedly from zookeepers or related persons, as well as AI-generated images and videos, many of which contain incorrect information. The public is urged to exercise caution in identifying such information.
To respond to fans' concerns, the zoo has released two self-produced videos on the Ichikawa City YouTube official channel, including a zookeeper recounting Panchi-kun's birth story, as well as many precious unpublished footages of Panchi-kun at 2 days old, Panchi-kun struggling to drag a doll around the monkey mountain, and Panchi-kun being hugged by other monkeys for the first time.
In the videos, Panchi-kun's adorable appearance made the two zookeepers responsible for the narration jokingly say, 'We really can't get enough of watching him.' Many fans also commented, 'You can really feel the zookeepers' efforts and love' from the narration. (Edited by Chen Hui-ping) 1150504
(CNA reporter Dai Ya-chen, Tokyo, 4th) During Japan's Golden Week holidays, 'Panchi-kun' (パンチ), a Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture who holds a stuffed animal and has an adorable demeanor, attracted large numbers of visitors, causing the zoo to be overcrowded. Although two new macaque babies were recently added to the park, the zoo announced that, due to intense external scrutiny and animal welfare considerations, it would temporarily refrain from disclosing individual information about monkeys other than Panchi-kun.
Panchi-kun became popular after being abandoned by his mother as an infant and raised artificially. He is always seen carrying a stuffed orangutan, even sleeping nestled against it, as if it were his mother. This sight, both cute and poignant, went viral after being featured in the media.
During Golden Week, a large number of tourists flocked to Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden, and the park and surrounding parking lots were at times overwhelmed. The zoo updated real-time entry conditions daily via its social media platform X to keep the public informed.
However, the surge in popularity also brought subsequent effects. In recent months, the zoo has issued multiple reminders, including preventing fraudulent fundraising messages, avoiding prolonged conversations with zookeepers, and prohibiting live streaming. More recently, it issued a further statement regarding animal welfare.
The zoo noted that one male and one female Japanese macaque baby were born on April 20 and 26, respectively, and have not yet been named. Considering the stability of the monkey troop and animal welfare, the zoo will temporarily stop disclosing individual information about monkeys other than Panchi-kun.
The zoo stated that since Panchi-kun gained global attention, it has received inquiries and concerns from various places, involving Panchi-kun's biological parents, individuals who received artificial rearing, and members of the monkey troop that interacted with Panchi-kun, including those who previously pulled or displayed aggressive behavior towards Panchi-kun, as well as those who played with him.
The zoo explained that in the past, introducing each animal's name, personality, and growth background helped enhance public understanding and emotional connection with animals, while also learning about their habits. Panchi-kun gained widespread global attention and popularity precisely because of this information dissemination. However, as support for Panchi-kun grew, negative emotions, including hostility and hatred, also arose towards other members of the monkey troop.
The zoo emphasized that the highest priority at present is to help Panchi-kun successfully integrate into the monkey troop. To this end, the zoo continues to observe and take necessary measures, such as temporarily separating some individuals from the group on March 8 this year.
The zoo pointed out that once individual names are disclosed, it may trigger numerous requests both domestically and internationally to 'protect or isolate specific individuals,' which would severely interfere with the zoo's operations and zookeepers' work, and even affect the overall animal care situation.
The zoo stated, 'Whether it's Panchi-kun or other monkeys, we continue to care for them with love and responsibility. To provide a stable environment for the monkey mountain, we choose to temporarily not disclose the names and personalities of individuals other than Panchi-kun, and we will not respond to related inquiries.'
Additionally, the zoo reminded that a large amount of information about Panchi-kun and his surroundings is circulating on social networks, including statements allegedly from zookeepers or related persons, as well as AI-generated images and videos, many of which contain incorrect information. The public is urged to exercise caution in identifying such information.
To respond to fans' concerns, the zoo has released two self-produced videos on the Ichikawa City YouTube official channel, including a zookeeper recounting Panchi-kun's birth story, as well as many precious unpublished footages of Panchi-kun at 2 days old, Panchi-kun struggling to drag a doll around the monkey mountain, and Panchi-kun being hugged by other monkeys for the first time.
In the videos, Panchi-kun's adorable appearance made the two zookeepers responsible for the narration jokingly say, 'We really can't get enough of watching him.' Many fans also commented, 'You can really feel the zookeepers' efforts and love' from the narration. (Edited by Chen Hui-ping) 1150504