Two American tourists were reportedly arrested in Japan after one allegedly entered the enclosure of Punch, the young macaque that went viral online for carrying around a stuffed orangutan toy.
Videos shared online appear to show a person wearing an emoji costume climbing over a barrier at Ichikawa City Zoobefore throwing a small stuffed toy into the monkey enclosure, startling the animals and causing them to run away.
According to reports, the suspects were identified as a 24-year-old college student and a 27-year-old singer.
Zoo staff quickly stepped in, and authorities said neither man physically touched the monkeys.
Police arrested the pair on suspicion of obstructing business operations. One suspect reportedly refused to cooperate with investigators, while the other denied the allegations.
In a statement posted on X, the zoo confirmed the two individuals had been handed over to police and said safety checks were carried out after the incident.
Officials also confirmed that none of the animals were injured. The zoo temporarily restricted access to some viewing areas and increased security measures while remaining open to visitors.