On June 3, 2026, two American citizens were each fined 300,000 yen (about US$1,876) by a Japanese court for trespassing into the enclosure of Punch, a Japanese macaque famous for its habit of hugging an orangutan stuffed toy that went viral on social media.
The incident occurred at a zoo near Tokyo where Punch is kept. The two men climbed over protective barriers and entered the area reserved for the monkey, posing a safety risk to both the animal and visitors.
According to sources, Punch gained worldwide fame after images of it clutching an orangutan stuffed toy were widely shared on social media. The break-in by the two American visitors was detected by zoo management, who reported it to authorities.
This is not the first time similar violations have occurred at Japanese zoos, where famous animals often attract excessive attention from visitors. The court imposed stiff penalties to deter and prevent similar behavior in the future.
