After a post of Ichikawa City Zoo’s little macaque monkey, the hashtag “Hang in there, Punch!” went viral. With recent updates, it seems that Punch is doing more than hanging in there as he begins to grow past his challenges.

People around the world connected with this little creature because of the adversity he was facing. After being abandoned by his mom and disregarded by the other monkeys, he latched onto an IKEA plushie.

Despite the emotions that Punch has evoked, the zoo remains hopeful. In fact, the zoo has stated that there is prospect for Punch to outgrow this toy.

On Wednesday, witnesses said Punch “was seen climbing on the back of another monkey”” and being comforted by his other companions (AP News).

Many of his fans are proud of this new development. Although they first fell in love with Punch’s attachment to a stuffed animal, now they are rooting for his rise in confidence.

The zookeepers also have a similar mindset, and they are they are actively working to train Punch and help him connect with his environment. As they continue to promote his growth and independence, they have implemented regulations within the zoo such as volume limitations and requiring a 10-minute maximum viewing for each visitor.

Many hearts are strung along with this little creature’s growth arc. As of now, Punch is still a timid monkey who sleeps with his toy every night. As we see him learning how to walk and bond with other monkeys, he will continue to be an inspiration for positive change.