Shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday, a man dressed in a yellow full-body costume promoting cryptocurrency trespassed into the monkey enclosure at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba Prefecture. The man illegally scaled the safety fences of the “monkey mountain” exhibit, home to Punch, the popular baby Japanese macaque known for hugging and carrying around a stuffed orangutan plushie.

List of Contents:

Monkeys Panic as Staff Detain Trespassers

The sudden appearance of the intruder panicked the resident monkeys, sending them fleeing to the top of the artificial mountain. Zoo employees reacted quickly and apprehended the trespasser. He was subsequently handed over to police along with a second man who was reportedly filming the stunt. Both suspects told police they are American nationals in their 20s.

Portions of the monkey mountain viewing area were cordoned off following the breach. Posting on X, the official account of the zoo stated that safety checks had been conducted on the animals and facilities. It added: “With some viewing areas closed and security measures strengthened, the park will remain open today until 4:30 p.m. as usual.” The zoo is closed on Mondays.

Punch the baby macaque with his stuffed orangutan toy | Screengrab via Youtube @zoo-at-home

Punch Monkey Enclosure Drives Visitor Surge

The disturbance comes amid a surge in popularity for the zoo driven by Punch. The adorable baby monkey was abandoned shortly after his birth in July 2025. Zoo staff gave him a stuffed orangutan to ease his anxiety, and the plushie quickly became his constant companion. Videos and images of Punch carrying and hugging the toy captivated audiences online.

The number of visitors to the zoo has been rising rapidly since Punch went viral in February. According to official figures, fiscal year 2025 saw a total attendance of 348,885 — an increase of more than 100,000 from the previous year’s 246,544. It was the highest annual total since the park opened in 1987.

Related Posts

Updated On May 18, 2026