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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(137,470 posts)
Mon May 18, 2026, 08:01 PM Monday

Americans arrested after man climbs into Punch the monkey's enclosure at Japanese zoo

Two Americans were arrested at a Japanese zoo after a man in an emoji suit climbed into the enclosure of a monkey that became an internet sensation.

Baby macaque Punch went viral earlier this year after he was spotted clutching an orangutan plushie, given to him as a substitute for the mother that rejected him after birth. His popularity has led to a surge in visitors to Ichikawa City Zoo outside Tokyo, but police had to be called out Sunday following an incident with an over-zealous fan.

Around 11am, a man dressed in a cartoonish blue suit and oversized yellow emoji head scaled the 1.5m fence at Punch’s enclosure in an apparent stunt.

-snip-
A second man reportedly filmed the bizarre encounter as it unfolded, with footage shared on social media.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/japan-police-arrest-men-scaled-083256750.html

They're lucky they didn't get bitten. Macaques have some good-sized fangs.



14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Americans arrested after man climbs into Punch the monkey's enclosure at Japanese zoo (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Monday OP
Punch believed that stuffed toy was his mom? oasis Monday #1
I don't think so. ShazzieB Monday #12
That makes sense. Glad it's working out well oasis Tuesday #13
I am very glad bucolic_frolic Monday #2
Yeah, I was wondering if he misinterpreted the sign. nt eppur_se_muova Monday #3
Better than shock the monkey, I guess. miyazaki Monday #9
Is "internet sensation" canetoad Monday #4
I knew this would be about clout chasing fuckwits from the title. n/t flvegan Monday #5
America has an unlimited supply of "Johnny Somali" style idiots. Midnight Writer Monday #6
A lot of stupidity targeting innocent animals lately MustLoveBeagles Monday #7
Dear Japan LearnedHand Monday #8
Another idiot trying for billionaire status in dobleremolque Monday #10
I just adore baby Punch CatWoman Monday #11
Memecoin cryptocurrency? I don't even want to know what the hell that is. betsuni Tuesday #14

ShazzieB

(22,883 posts)
12. I don't think so.
Mon May 18, 2026, 10:55 PM
Monday

Zoo staff cared for him after his mother rejected him. They gave him the plushie as a comfort object.

I googled him just now because I hadn't heard of him before and wanted to see what he looked like. According to the Google AI summary: "he has successfully integrated into his monkey troop and no longer relies on his stuffed toy for comfort. He spends his days playing, socializing, and learning troop dynamics alongside other young monkeys."

Nice, huh?

oasis

(53,986 posts)
13. That makes sense. Glad it's working out well
Tue May 19, 2026, 12:57 AM
Tuesday

for the little guy.
Thanks for the explanation.

bucolic_frolic

(55,840 posts)
2. I am very glad
Mon May 18, 2026, 08:09 PM
Monday

that he climbed into Punch the monkey's enclosure rather than climbed in to punch the monkey.

LearnedHand

(5,604 posts)
8. Dear Japan
Mon May 18, 2026, 09:32 PM
Monday

I swear we are not all like this. We do our very best to be respectful and courteous when we visit other countries, including trying to make up for the damage our idiots do. We don’t all feel as if every other country owes us something. Please forgive us that the collective sense of shame, which in normal countries would help good behavior, died a violent death in 2016 (or maybe before).

dobleremolque

(1,133 posts)
10. Another idiot trying for billionaire status in
Mon May 18, 2026, 10:03 PM
Monday

the Attention Economy. Social media is going to be the death of some societies....probably ours, first.

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