Punch the Monkey is currently safe after two US tourists with possible links to cryptocurrency staged an invasion of his enclosure at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan
Two US tourists have been arrested for leaping into Punch the Monkey’s enclosure with a stuffed toy.
Police in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo, arrested Red Jahnai Daysun, 24, and Neal Jabahri Duan, 27 following the incident at Ichikawa City Zoo. One of the blokes, donned in a blue suit and yellow emoji head, was spotted jumping into the enclosure with a stuffed toy, while the other is said to have filmed the event.
One of the intruders’ attire appears to be linked to a “meme coin” cryptocurrency, according to the New York Post, which also noted that both men’s social media accounts “feature posts showing off their travels, fancy watches and cars, and stacks of money as they try to promote their online content”.
It remains unclear what connection the men have to crypto, with Daysun identifying as a college student and Duan as a self-proclaimed singer, according to Chiba police.
Both men deny the charges, say the police.
Zoo visitors were left stunned by the scene, with the macaques all fleeing in terror and gathering at a rock formation within the enclosure to escape from the trespasser.
A keeper was spotted entering moments later and seizing the man’s arm, escorting him from the enclosure, which is home to approximately 50 monkeys.
Daysun and Duan faced charges for disrupting zoo operations, with the facility now installing nets and permanent patrol units to safeguard the enclosure.
The zoo confirmed all the animals remained unharmed throughout the incident, including Punch, who was rejected by his mother last July following a challenging birth during a severe heatwave.
The conditions surrounding his arrival left the young macaque without proper natural guidance, resulting in a solitary childhood of playing alone and struggling to bond with fellow monkeys.
The zoo’s attempts to encourage his socialisation, including providing him with a stuffed toy, became an internet sensation as supporters worldwide rallied behind Punch’s quest to find companionship.