Two American citizens were detained by Japanese authorities, as they are accused of breaking into the premises where the famous monkey Punch is located, a macaque that went viral for always being accompanied by a stuffed animal.
The Ichikawa City Zoo issued a statement on its social networks stating that it handed over the two people to the authorities and that the incident occurred at 10:50 local time on Sunday, May 17.
On the other hand, the local police station indicated that the two detained Americans had committed the crime of obstruction of commercial activity by force.
The detainees, according to local authorities and mediathey denied the charges.
They were later identified as Reed Junai Dayson, 24-year-old college student, and Neil Jabari Duane, who recorded the incident.
According to authorities, while Neil was recording the situation, Reed entered the enclosure where the monkeys were kept, supposedly disguised and, apparently, was going to promote a type of cryptocurrency called memecoin.
After this event, the Ichikawa Zoo announced that it will strengthen security measures and that, due to this incident, Several events planned by the venue were canceled.
Punch was raised by zoo staff after be rejected by his mother at birth in July 2025.
They gave her a stuffed orangutan that became a kind of maternal substitute. Their bond made him one of the main attractions of the park, which saw its visits multiply.
Also read: Punch in danger? why PETA calls for moving the popular Japanese monkey to a sanctuary