Two American tourists were arrested in Japan over the weekend after one climbed into the enclosure of Punch the monkey, the abandoned baby macaque, on the Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan.
Japanese police said Monday that they arrested Reid Jahnai Daysun, a 24-year-old college student, after he climbed over a fence and dropped into the monkey exhibit where the viral baby macaque is situated.
Neal Jabahri Duan, a 27-year-old tourist, filmed the stunt and was also detained on charges of obstructing operations on the zoo, the Recent York Times reports.
The 2 men deny the costs, the police told the Times, and shall be questioned further by prosecutors on Tuesday.
Global News has reached out to the Ichikawa Police Department for further comment, but has not received a response.
The Ichikawa City Zoo confirmed the arrests in a post on Sunday, adding, “Around 10:50 today, there was an intruder in Saruyama. We’re informing you that the 2 individuals, including the intruder in query, have been handed over to the police.”
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“In response, we conducted safety checks on the animals and facilities. With some viewing areas closed and security measures strengthened, the park will remain open today until 16:30 as usual,” the zoo added.
The Ichikawa City Zoo also released a press release on Monday, saying it had filed a damage report with the Ichikawa Police Station.
“From tomorrow onward, with the protection and health of the animals as our top priority, we are going to proceed with countermeasures while strictly addressing any rule violations,” the zoo added.
The zoo said that starting on Tuesday, it should work on expansion of the viewing restriction area, installation of intrusion prevention nets within the restricted area and institute constant patrol.
“We apologize for any further inconvenience and ask in your understanding,” the zoo added.
In footage of the trespassing incident, an individual wearing an emoji costume is seen climbing over the barrier surrounding the macaque monkey habitat, then dropping a small stuffed toy near the monkeys. The animals back away once the person approaches.
The footage also shows zoo staff grabbing the costumed person and escorting them from the enclosure.
Punch the monkey became a worldwide web sensation earlier this 12 months after stealing the hearts of many after a video showed him dragging a stuffed orangutan around his enclosure.
The newborn monkey was abandoned by his mother at birth and raised by zoo staff, in response to the zoo’s website. The stuffed animal was given to Punch to function a surrogate mother and supply comfort for the now nine-month-old macaque.
Punch’s fame soared to recent levels when a video posted to social media showed him being dragged across the bottom by a bigger macaque. After the interaction, Punch ran to his plushie and hugged it while a number of other macaques got here to ascertain on him.
Punch was born on July 26, 2025, and has been living with the troop of macaques since Jan. 19, in response to a post on X from the zoo.
In February, the Ikea stuffed orangutan sold out after many individuals began sharing videos that showed Punch dragging the plushie around his enclosure.
Ikea also shared a post of a monkey hugging the plushie they known as “Punch’s comfort orangutan.”
“We’re ALL Punch’s family now,” it wrote within the caption.
Punch’s stuffed orangutan from Ikea’s Djungelskog line of kids’s toys is now back in stock and selling for $14.99 in Canada.
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