Two U.S. nationals were detained after one of them climbed into Punch the monkey’s zoo enclosure.
WASHINGTON — Two Americans were arrested on Sunday in Japan after one of them climbed into the zoo enclosure of Punch, a baby monkey who became a viral internet sensation this year.
Videos posted on social media showed a person scaling the monkey enclosure fence in a costume that included a smiley face and sunglasses. When the man landed on the ground, the costume’s head came off and he scooped it back up. According to The New York Times, the man’s costume appeared to be a mascot associated with a cryptocurrency social media account.
Japanese authorities in Ichikawa, a suburb of Tokyo, detained the two men on charges of obstructing operations at the city’s zoo, according to multiple media reports.
Police told Agence France-Presse and The New York Times that the man who dropped into the monkey exhibit identified himself as a 24-year-old college student. The other man, who filmed the stunt, reportedly identified himself as a 27-year-old singer.
Videos showed the macaques staying far away from the intruder and rushing to the top of a rock formation in the enclosure. A zookeeper arrived about a minute later and escorted the costumed man out. None of the monkeys were injured during the incident, police said.
In a statement on Monday, the zoo said “no abnormalities have been observed among the animals,” and they plan to add permanent patrols and install intrusion prevention nets.
A police official told AFP the two men didn’t have any formal ID with them and initially tried to lie to authorities about their names.