Sachcha pyaar: Penguin who fell in love with a cardboard cutout dies at 21
A penguin at a zoo in north of Tokyo was left by his wife when he fell in love with a cardboard cutout of an anime character. The penguin has died at the age of 21 with the cutout by his side.
A penguin who shot to fame for his love interest in a cardboard cutout of a Japanese anime character has died at the age of 21 with his darling by his side.
Officials at Tobu zoo in Saitama, north of Tokyo where Grape-Kun lived, said Grape passed away after a brief illness with the cardboard beloved by his side.
He would have been around 80 in human years. The officials confirmed the death on Twitter.
"Have a good rest in heaven," Tobu zoo tweeted.
Earlier this month, the Humboldt penguin fell for a cutout of Hululu which is a character from the Japanese anime Kemono Friends.
The new love was found in the cardboard cutout soon after he was dumped by his former mate, a female called Midori.
"Little Grape had a wife called Midori but she left him and found herself a new husband," Tobu zoo's penguin caretaker Eri Nemoto told local media.
"We put the cardboard panel next to him to comfort him to the very end."
This love story went viral and Grape earned millions of fans worldwide.
Twitter account of the Kemono Friends also expressed its sympathies on the Grape's passing.
Zoo officials erected a makeshift shrine to their fallen celebrity penguin on Saturday.
Several mourners visited Tobu zoo's penguin enclosure and many came in with flowers.