- Two American men were arrested for breaking into a monkey enclosure in Ichikawa City Zoo
- One man climbed the fence while the other filmed; both were detained by police in Chiba
- The men face forcible obstruction of business charges, which they deny
Two American men have been arrested in Japan after one broke into the Ichikawa City Zoo enclosure, home to baby Punch, a monkey that went viral on social media earlier this year. Reid Jahnai Daysun, 24, jumped the fence to enter the enclosure while Neal Jabahri Duan, 27, filmed the incident, prompting the police in the Tokyo suburb of Chiba to detain both of them. Video clips of the incident show Daysun, wearing a blue suit with a smiling emoji head, climbing into the enclosure.
Daysun's strange outfit appeared to be a reference to the emoji typically used to promote “memecoin” cryptocurrencies. He was also seen carrying a stuffed toy, according to a report in the New York Post. The men did not come in contact with Punch or the other monkeys before being apprehended by the security.
Ichikawa City Zoo said on Monday that it had filed a damage report with the police and was putting countermeasures in place to prevent future incidents. Both men now face charges of forcible obstruction of business, which they deny.
“We apologise for the concern caused by yesterday's intrusion into the monkey enclosure,” the zoo said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). “No abnormalities were observed among the animals.
“We filed a police report with the Ichikawa Police Station last night. From tomorrow onwards, we will continue to prioritise the safety and health of the animals and take appropriate measures, while strictly addressing any rule violations.”
Punch's Popularity
Punch became an internet sensation in February after the zoo posted photos of him with a large orangutan plush toy when he was rejected by his mother. Punch's early attempts to fit in failed as other monkeys either ignored him or behaved violently. Punch's only comfort was his plush toy that a member of staff gifted him as a tool for muscle building and maternal replacement.
As Punch's story went viral, tourists from around the world started visiting the Japanese zoo to catch a glimpse of the little macaque. The zoo also addressed claims that Punch was being bullied by the aggressive macaques, adding that monkeys follow a strict social hierarchy where dominant monkeys use "disciplining actions" toward subordinates.
