Two American tourists have been arrested in Japan after allegedly trespassing into a monkey enclosure at the Ichikawa City Zoo, home to Punch, the baby macaque whose emotional story had gone viral earlier this year.
According to reports of NDTV, the incident took place on May 17 when one of the men, a 24-year-old college student, reportedly climbed into the monkey enclosure wearing a novelty costume. The second man, a 27-year-old singer, allegedly recorded the act on camera while visitors watched in shock.
Videos circulating online showed chaos inside the enclosure as the monkeys appeared frightened and quickly gathered together. Zoo staff rushed to the area and escorted the man out before the situation escalated further.
Why Punch became an internet sensation
Punch, a young macaque born in July 2025, gained worldwide attention after heartbreaking photos showed him hugging a stuffed orangutan toy for comfort after being abandoned by his mother. The images quickly spread across social media platforms, turning the baby monkey into an internet sensation.
Caretakers at Ichikawa City Zoo had introduced the plush toy while hand-raising the infant macaque. Videos documenting Punch’s recovery and gradual social integration with other monkeys attracted millions of views online.
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As per the reports of NDTV, the zoo had previously shared updates about Punch’s adjustment to the troop, explaining that macaques live within a strict social hierarchy. Officials also noted that some aggressive behaviour seen among the monkeys was part of normal “disciplining actions” inside the group.
Japanese police reportedly arrested an American crypto bro who illegally entered Punch the monkey's zoo enclosure.
— Jeffrey J. Hall 🇯🇵🇺🇠(@mrjeffu) May 18, 2026
The man's friend, who was filming it, was arrested too. He told police: I did not enter the fenced area, so this arrest is not justifiedpic.twitter.com/I7BIeYQbEI https://t.co/Lp24zHoZCi
Tourists accused of disrupting zoo operations
Following NDTV's report Japanese authorities later arrested both American tourists on allegations related to obstructing zoo operations. Reports stated that both men denied wrongdoing during questioning.
While no monkeys were physically injured during the incident, the unauthorised entry raised concerns about animal safety and visitor behaviour at the zoo. Authorities are reportedly continuing their investigation into the matter.
The incident also sparked criticism online, with several social media users calling the stunt irresponsible, especially considering Punch’s popularity and sensitive upbringing.
Zoo plans tighter security after incident
As per NDTV's report, following the breach, Ichikawa City Zoo announced plans to strengthen security around the monkey enclosure. Officials are considering expanding restricted zones, increasing patrols and installing protective nets to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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The zoo has not announced whether Punch or the other macaques showed signs of lasting stress after the disturbance. However, officials confirmed that the animals remained safe and were being monitored by caretakers.
Punch continues to remain one of the zoo’s most recognised animals, with visitors from different parts of the world arriving to see the young macaque whose story touched millions online.
