‘Attempt on Punch the Monkey’s life’ with maniac wielding a laser at shy animal
The Japanese zoo that houses Punch the Monkey issued a stern warning after it was reported a maniac wielding a laser at the famous animal was expelled from the establishment
The viral macaque is under threat once more (file)(Image: JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images)
Punch the Monkey has reportedly suffered another threat to his life at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan. The viral baby macaque who shot to fame when he was rejected by his own mother had a laser pointed at him earlier this week.
Now the Japanese zoo where Punch is housed has issued a stern warning. “We will take firm action, such as immediately expelling laser pointer users from the zoo,” a zoo official told local sources.
The spokesperson dubbed the act “extremely dangerous” and also warned against using camera flashes.
“These animals deserve to feel safe in their home, free from anything that can scare, stress or harm them. Please help protect Punch and all the macaques by respecting the rules and reporting this behaviour if you ever see it,” the zoo posted on social media.
Comments under the reposted video were critical of the visitor, with one calling the person an “idiot”.
“Whoever tries to harm the animals at the zoo, especially Punch, I hope they are put in jail, fined a large sum of money, and banned from entering Ichikawa City Zoo ever again,” another wrote.
It comes after two American tourists were detained for jumping into Punch’s enclosure carrying a stuffed toy earlier this year.
Officers in Chiba, a Tokyo suburb, apprehended Red Jahnai Daysun, 24, and Neal Jabahri Duan, 27 after the incident at Ichikawa City Zoo. One of the men, wearing a blue suit and yellow emoji head, was seen leaping into the enclosure clutching a stuffed toy, while the other allegedly recorded the stunt.
One of the trespassers’ clothing seems to be connected to a “meme coin” cryptocurrency, according to the New York Post, which also observed that both men’s social media profiles “feature posts showing off their travels, fancy watches and cars, and stacks of money as they try to promote their online content”.
Zoo-goers were left shocked by the spectacle, with the macaques all bolting in panic and clustering at a rock formation within the enclosure to get away from the intruder.
