Punch has found love and i am still single

In the era of the internet, loneliness has evaded most of our spaces overwhelmingly and it’s nothing new to note that those who wag, purr, or nuzzle teach us unconditional love, joy in small moments, and living in the present. Humans have enjoyed the companionship of animals since time immemorial. Animals provide significant benefits to humans in regards to emotional support. Through acts such as listening without judgment, and being there when one feels lonely, this positive impact is a fact that is also supported by various studies.

In a study led by the University of Liverpool, research papers from 17 different countries were examined regarding the positive impact of pets on human mental well-being. The result supported the view that dogs, cats and other companion animals have a demonstrably positive effect on their human owners, regardless of age. The investigations looked at both adults and children suffering from a variety of mental health problems. They all lived in households with animals of various species and the important role of animals in the life of these individuals became very clear.

Animals Ease Solitude

Significant findings have also been reported, for instance, in connection with war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and the influence of their dogs. The veterans’ four-legged friends helped them to relax more, reducing their worries, irritability and sense of loneliness. The very presence of animals, as well as the physical contact offered by stroking them, had a positive effect on the veterans.

"animals were able to distract their owners from disturbing experiences such as suffering panic attacks"

Pet owners pointed out the innate ability of their animals to sense when support is needed in terms of their attention, their companionship, and physical contact. Especially during times of crisis for their owners, they demonstrated their unique ability to intuitively respond to their owners' needs and provide significant emotional support. It was shown that animals were able to distract their owners from disturbing experiences such as suffering panic attacks, helping to reduce memories of traumatic experiences or even suicidal thoughts.

This painting by Poulomi Bose finds its inspiration in the love humans and animals share. It attempts to capture the warmth of their interaction and reiterate what Kundera said in his novel, The unbearable lightness of being , “To sit with a dog on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace.”

The Dynamics of Virtual Pets

Indeed, there is evidence of domestication even in the Prehistoric period, during the times of Indus Valley Civilisation, it was a dog that alleviated Robinson Crusoe’s loneliness for many years in an isolated island and then in the 21st century, we experienced the appeal of virtual pets. Slovenian studio Outfit7 developed “My Talking Tom”, a virtual pet game in 2013 which was a commercial success with 26 billion downloads worldwide. I remember downloading it for the first time in those early days of smartphones and feeling a sense of responsibility and even friendship with a digital creature! While concerns about privacy, financial ethics around “our old friend the in-app purchase” have been raised by parents and grandparents of many young users, it remains clear that companionship doesn’t always need a definite form, it’s always about sharing your feelings!

Our love for animals we see online

“Hey Hem! Punch, the viral monkey from Japan has reportedly found love and I am still single. Punch:1, Me:0,” a WhatsApp text message I found in my inbox this morning from a friend and I couldn’t stop thinking about how quickly we associate our lives with animals we see online. The emotional bonds formed with viral animals have quietly but steadily found a home in us. We genuinely root for them. Among its most recent expressions is the story of the baby macaque monkey named Punch who has gone viral for his heart-wrenching pursuit of companionship. Punch and his plushie recreate a famous psychological experiment of the 1950s when US researcher Harry Harlow had developed the attachment theory that emphasised the importance of softness and kindness in primates, which flipped the previous theory that animals only care about fulfilment of their physical needs.

"these beings participate in cultural production by simply and unintentionally being the animals they are."

The internet’s obsession with Punch reveals that in a way, these beings participate in cultural production by simply and unintentionally being the animals they are. “When we cheer for Punch, we are actually cheering for ourselves: the stronger, fragile yet unyielding version of us that aches for respect, worth and belonging,” says Ishika Roy in an article on The Indian Express.

To sum it all up, Punch isn’t just an internet sensation, he also serves as a kind reminder that we all require care and companionship. I’m so glad Punch had his plushie and now a girlfriend although some of you might think of her with suspicion (“she’s there because of his fame,” said an Instagram user), I hope we don’t feel lonely too often and that we too find the right companion for everything we do, in animals, real or virtual, in fellow humans or even at times, within ourselves!