Shocking footage captured the moment an American tourist dressed as an emoji leapt into a monkey enclosure and sparked chaos among the animals. The incident unfolded Sunday at the Ichikawa City Zoo in Ichikawa, Japan, in the enclosure where a baby macaque monkey named Punch became an internet sensation earlier this year.
Arrests and Charges
Japanese authorities said two Americans were arrested for the stunt, and identified them as 24-year-old Reid Jahnai Dayson and 27-year-old Neal Jabari Duan. According to Japanese outlet TBS News, Dayson climbed over a fence and dropped into the monkey exhibit while Duan allegedly filmed his antics. Video of the moment allegedly showed Dayson dressed in a full Emoji costume and head leaping into the enclosure, sending the monkeys scrambling for safety.
Stunned witnesses yelled at him as he strolled along the exhibit, until a zoo worker emerged and escorted him out. The man appeared to film the incident as some form of stunt as he waved to the crowd, but he did not interact with Punch the monkey before being apprehended. An official with the Ichikawa Police said Dayson and Duan face charges of forcible obstruction of business, which they reportedly denied in court.
Zoo Response and Safety Measures
In response to the viral stunt, Ichikawa Zoo said in an X post that it was restricting access to Punch the monkey's enclosure while it investigates the incident. The zoo said it was installing 'intrusion prevention nets' around the exhibit, and would be introducing extra patrols around the monkeys to keep them safe. Visitors to the zoo will also be banned from filming at the exhibit, and the zoo said it would be banning all proposals from YouTubers to record Punch and his fellow monkeys 'for the time being.' The zoo added that 'no abnormalities' had been observed in any of the monkeys following the stunt on Sunday.
Background on Punch the Monkey
The arrest of the two Americans comes as Ichikawa Zoo has been inundated with visitors following the viral fame of Punch. The monkey became an online sensation earlier this year as millions watched videos of the macaque holding an orangutan stuffed animal for comfort. The orphaned monkey was raised in captivity and was initially rejected by other monkeys in the enclosure, sparking global adoration for the animal as its antics went viral on social media. The zoo said it was helping Punch integrate, and last month fans were overjoyed to see the monkey was finally accepted by his peers.
Officials said the two men initially lied to police about their names when they were arrested, and did not have formal identification, per AFP.
