Mumbai : If you’re active on social media, you’ve likely seen a baby monkey clinging to a stuffed orangutan toy. This baby macaque, Punch, is currently residing at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.
After Punch’s story of resilience and heartbreak went viral, people sympathized, making the baby monkey an online sensation.
Now, Punch is more than just a viral figure. At just seven months old, the baby macaque has become the face of Mumbai Police’s new campaign. The police have creatively harnessed Punch’s internet fame to raise awareness about India’s national emergency helpline number, 112.
Mumbai Police Taps Into Punch’s Popularity
In an Instagram post, Mumbai Police shared a series of images featuring Punch. Each image carried important messages, all rooted in Mahatma Gandhi’s principles.
The first three images highlighted moral values often associated with Gandhi: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
In the first image, Punch closed its eyes with the message, “Bura Mat Dekho (See no evil).” The second image showed Punch covering its ears, with the message, “Bura Mat Suno (Hear no evil).” The third image displayed Punch covering its mouth with its hands, reading, “Bura Mat Kaho (Speak no evil).”
Final Image Sends a Powerful Message
The final image in the post stood out. It showed Punch holding its stuffed orangutan toy, accompanied by the message, “Bura Mat Karo (Do no evil).”
Mumbai Police used this post to encourage responsible action and urged the public to report wrongdoing. The caption read, “Be wise, report vice #JustPunchIn112 #WiseMonkeyAdvise.”
View this post on Instagram
Social Media Praises Mumbai Police’s Creativity
The post quickly captured online attention. People praised Mumbai Police’s creativity, with one user commenting, “Best one yet.” Another person wrote, “Yaaaaaar Mumbai police, tum bohot acha kaam karta hai.”
Other comments included, “A+ for social media performance.” One user said, “This is so cute. I love the Mumbai police. So proud that it is one of the safest cities for women. Gratitude to each one of you.”
A different user quipped, “Bhai ye @mumbaipolice ka Admin ko bhi please award do koi to !!”
Punch’s Heartwarming Backstory
For context, Punch was abandoned by its mother at birth. At Ichikawa Zoo, it found comfort in the stuffed orangutan toy. There, it received the care and attention it needed to thrive.
