Two people were arrested in Japan after breaking into the viral macaque Punch’s enclosure, according to the zoo. Ichikawa Zoo, outside of Tokyo, said on social media Sunday that there was an “intruder” in the monkey enclosure. The pair was apprehended by police. The zoo said it perform ed safety checks on the animals and that “no abnormalities” were observed, but said that “countermeasures” would be put in place. Starting Tuesday, the zoo said it would expand the viewing restriction area, install “intrusion prevention nets,” and maintain constant patrols. Animals Mar 5 Punch the orphan macaque is outgrowing his plushie and making friends Japan Feb 20 Punch the monkey, initially an outcast, finds some friends (and the internet's support) Images and videos online showed a person wearing a bright blue suit and a smiley-face mask scaling the fence and jumping into the Japanese zoo. NBC News has reached out to local police for more information on those arrested. 7 month-old male macaque monkey named Punch, who was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, spending time with a stuffed orangutan toy on February 19, 2026. Punch and his stuffed monkey toy won over the internet’s hearts earlier this year after he was cast away by other monkeys living with him and rejected by his mother. ...read more read less