JAPAN: Two American men were arrested in Japan after allegedly entering a monkey enclosure at Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Garden in Chiba Prefecture, disrupting zoo operations and prompting an emergency response from staff.
According to The Asahi Shimbun, the incident occurred at approximately 10.51 am on 17 May 2026 when one of the men climbed over a restricted fence and entered the enclosure housing Japanese macaques, including Punch, a baby monkey that recently gained international attention online.
Police identified the suspects as Reid Jahnai Dayson, 24, and Neal Jabahri Duan, 27.
Authorities said Dayson entered the enclosure while Duan filmed the incident.
Zoo staff later contacted police, reporting that a foreign man had entered the monkey enclosure.
The two men were subsequently arrested on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business, according to Chiba prefectural police.
Alleged stunt disrupted zoo activities
Tokyo Weekender reported that Dayson was dressed in a yellow full-body costume that appeared to promote a cryptocurrency project.
The report stated that the man scaled safety barriers surrounding the “monkey mountain” exhibit shortly before 11 am, causing alarm among the monkeys housed there.
Clips shared on social media show the animals retreated to the top of the artificial enclosure following the intrusion.
Zoo employees intervened and detained the suspect before police arrived.
The incident also reportedly forced zoo staff to suspend scheduled activities and implement safety protocols.
According to investigative sources cited by The Asahi Shimbun, Dayson declined to answer questions and disputed the arrest.
Duan reportedly argued that he should not have been arrested because he did not personally enter the enclosure.
Zoo increases security measures
Following the incident, sections of the viewing area around the monkey exhibit were temporarily closed while staff carried out inspections of the enclosure and surrounding facilities.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, the zoo said safety checks had been conducted on both the animals and the premises.
“With some viewing areas closed and security measures strengthened, the park will remain open today until 4.30 pm as usual,” the zoo stated.
The zoo is normally closed on Mondays.
Punch’s popularity drew international attention
The enclosure involved in the incident houses Punch, a young Japanese macaque that became widely known online after images and videos of the animal carrying a stuffed orangutan toy circulated on social media.
Punch was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth in July 2025.
Zoo caretakers reportedly introduced the stuffed toy to comfort the infant macaque, and the animal later became known for regularly hugging and carrying it around the enclosure.
The zoo began sharing updates about Punch on social media earlier this year using the hashtag #GoPunch.
The posts attracted significant international attention and increased visitor numbers to the city-run facility.
Attendance rises after viral attention
According to official figures cited by Tokyo Weekender, the zoo recorded 348,885 visitors during fiscal year 2025, an increase of more than 100,000 compared with the previous year’s attendance of 246,544.
The publication reported that the figure marked the highest annual attendance since the zoo opened in 1987.
The viral attention surrounding Punch also led to increased donations and growing international interest in the zoo, according to reports.
Police investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
