Two American citizens were detained in Japan on Sunday after an incident at a zoo involving a popular baby macaque. Japanese police disclosed the arrests on Monday, stating that one of the individuals entered the monkey enclosure.
Reid Jahnai Dayson, a 24-year-old university student, and Neal Jabahri Duan, 27, who identified himself as a singer, were caught in the act. The Ichikawa Police Department shared these details in coordination with CBS News’ partner, TBS News.
The baby macaque, named Punch, became an internet sensation earlier this year. He was seen with a toy at Ichikawa City Zoo in March 2026. Reports indicate that Dayson scaled the fence and entered the dry moat surrounding the monkeys, while Duan recorded him.
Images circulated online showing a person in a costume with a smiley face and sunglasses, causing the monkeys to move away. Zoo staff quickly apprehended the men, and police confirmed the detainees did not approach the animals.
The suspects face charges of disrupting business operations, which they deny. Initially, they provided false names and were without identification. This was confirmed by Ichikawa Police to the AFP.
The zoo announced changes on their social media, including plans to restrict access to Punch’s enclosure from Tuesday. Measures such as intrusion prevention nets and regular patrols are being implemented. There is also a discussion about banning filming at the zoo.
Despite the incident, no harm was observed among the zoo’s animals. The event happened amidst a boom in visitors to the zoo due to Punch’s viral popularity. Earlier, he caught attention while holding an IKEA plush toy for comfort. He was raised in a controlled environment after his mother rejected him following his birth in July.
Punch’s situation gained widespread online attention, fostering a fanbase under the hashtag #HangInTherePunch. In recent years, an influx of tourists to Japan has led to complaints from locals about unruly behavior by some visitors.
In related incidents, last year saw a Ukrainian YouTuber arrested for trespassing in Fukushima’s exclusion zone, and in 2023, an American known as Johnny Somali faced arrest for entering a construction site without permission.
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