An elderly penguin has been left heartbroken after a cardboard cutout of a cartoon character it had fallen in love with was put away to safeguard it from a typhoon.
Grape-kun was pictured slumped in despair after zookeepers removed the cutout at Tobu Zoo, in Miyashiro, Japan amid fears it could be blown away.
The 20-year-old penguin began an unlikely romance with the cardboard character after being ‘dumped’ by a female with whom he was coupled with for ten years.
Grape-kun was pictured slumped in despair after zookeepers removed the cutout at Tobu Zoo, in Miyashiro, Japan amid fears it could be blown away
The 20-year-old penguin (shown) began an unlikely romance with the cardboard character after being ‘dumped’ by a female with whom he was coupled with for ten years
‘Hululu has to evacuate because of the typhoon,’ tweeted the Tobu Zoo Twitter account. ‘Sorry, Grape-kun.’
Zoo staff was concerned for Grape-kun after the end of his relationship with Midori, who left him for a younger penguin.
He began spending less time with other penguins, and more time wandering alone, according to staff.
However, Grape-kun’s luck changed after a cardboard cut-out of a character from the hit anime series Kemono Friends was installed in the penguin enclosure.
After losing his partner of ten years, Grape-kun’s luck changed after a cardboard cut-out of a character from the hit anime series Kemono Friends was installed in the penguin enclosure
The character, Hululu, is a petite girl wearing a short dress with a penguin-like pattern and headphones.
It was not long before zookeepers began noticing that Grape was spending more and more time staring at the cut-out, much to the amusement of zoo visitors.
Grape’s true feelings were all but confirmed when he was observed standing before the cut-out with his wings outstretched and his beak pointed up.
The stance is a courtship ritual in the penguin world, and an indicator that Grape could be ready to take his relationship to the next level.
Grape’s true feelings were all but confirmed when he was observed standing before the cut-out with his wings outstretched and his beak pointed up – a penguin courtship ritual