Two U.S. Men Arrested After Entering Viral Monkey Enclosure in Japan

Two American men were arrested in Japan after one entered the enclosure of Punch, a baby macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, while the other filmed the incident, police said. The men, who identified themselves as a 24-year-old college student and a 27-year-old singer, were detained Sunday morning at the zoo in Chiba Prefecture. Authorities charged both with forcible obstruction of business.

The 24-year-old scaled a fence and dropped into a dry moat surrounding the monkey exhibit, according to police. The 27-year-old recorded the act from outside the enclosure. Zoo staff quickly apprehended the intruder before he approached the animals. The monkeys scattered but sustained no injuries, officials said.

Zoo said it filed a police report and apologized for the disruption. The zoo announced it will expand viewing restrictions, install intrusion prevention nets, and maintain constant patrols starting Tuesday. Punch, born last July, gained international attention earlier this year after keepers gave him a stuffed orangutan toy following his rejection by his mother.

The macaque has since begun integrating with other monkeys in the shared enclosure. " — Ichikawa Zoo, May 18, 2026 (X post) The zoo is also considering a temporary ban on filming near the enclosure and has paused requests from YouTubers. Similar trespassing incidents have occurred at other zoos featuring viral animals, including a case last month involving a baby pygmy hippo in Thailand.