Two Americans were arrested in Japan after allegedly breaking into the enclosure of Punch, a viral baby macaque, at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo on Sunday (May 17). The pair, Reid Jahnai Daysun, 24, and Neal Jabahri Duan, 27, were detained by police after one of them allegedly jumped the fence into the enclosure while the other filmed the incident.
Videos shared online show a person, believed to be Daysun, wearing a blue suit with a smiley emoji head, climbing into the enclosure. The costume is thought to reference a cryptocurrency mascot. The monkeys, including Punch, were unharmed, though they were seen retreating to a rock formation in the enclosure.
The zoo confirmed that no abnormalities were observed among the animals, but they plan to implement new safety measures, including installing intrusion prevention nets and maintaining constant patrols.
Daysun and Duan were charged with obstructing operations at the zoo. Both men denied the charges and are expected to be questioned further by prosecutors on Tuesday.
Punch became an internet sensation earlier this year after images of him with a stuffed orangutan toy went viral. The zoo provided the toy to help Punch socialize after his mother abandoned him following a difficult labor.
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