By Erika Hernandez
Two American citizens were arrested in Japan after an incident at the Ichikawa City Zoowhere one of them entered the enclosure of a macaque monkey that went viral on social networks.
According to reports from Japanese media and the AFP agency, the suspects were identified as a 24-year-old university student and a 27-year-old singer.
Authorities said both were arrested on suspicion of forcible obstruction of commercial activities.
The incident involved the monkey Punch
The incident occurred on Sunday, when one of the men allegedly scaled a security barrier and entered the Punch compound, a young Japanese macaque known for going viral due to his strong attachment to a stuffed orangutan.
Videos spread on social networks show a person dressed in an emoji suit throwing a small doll into the area where the animals were, causing several monkeys to get scared and retreat.
The zoo later stated that None of the animals were injured and that the suspects had no physical contact with the macaques.
Zoo reinforced security measures
In a statement published on X, the zoo confirmed that the two individuals were handed over to the police and that safety inspections were carried out following the incident.
“There was an intruder in Saruyama,” the zoo reported in reference to the monkey area.
Authorities also announced temporary closures in some observation areas and the strengthening of security measures while normal operations continue.
Punch became famous after being raised by caregivers
Punch gained online notoriety after zookeepers began hand-raising him after he was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth in July 2025.
The images of the little monkey constantly accompanied by an orangutan doll generated millions of views and they turned the animal into one of the zoo’s main attractions.
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