An elderly penguin has been left heartbroken after a cardboard cutout of a cartoon character it had fallen in love with was taken away to safeguard it from a typhoon.

Grape-kun was pictured slumped in despair after keepers removed the cutout from his enclosure 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.

フンボルトペンギンのグレープ君が昨日亡くなりました。
これまで応援してくれた皆様本当にありがとうございました。また、グレープ君を最後まで見守ってくれたフルルもありがとう。そして、グレープ君長い間ありがとう。天国でゆっくり休んでね。#東武動物公園 #けものフレンズ #グレープ君 pic.twitter.com/PfjoJVyiuA

— 東武動物公園【公式】リュウくん (@tobuzoo7) 2017年10月13日

‘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.

While the news of the penguin’s passing has brought tears to the eyes of many across Japan and around the world, we can all take solace in the fact that his beloved Hululu was there with him until the very end. Given the high-profile nature of their relationship, it’s highly likely that the zoo will hold some sort of memorial or event in honour of their memory, and while we wait to hear what will happen to Hululu in the wake of her partner’s passing, we send our condolences to her and Grape-kun’s friends at Tobu Zoo. R.I.P. Grape-kun. You will be sorely missed.