Americans Arrested in Japan for Entering Punch the Monkey’s Zoo Home to Promote Meme Coin

Two American males had been arrested for his or her function in disturbing viral macaque monkey Punch by slipping into his enclosure in a Japanese zoo—all in an effort to advertise a meme coin, in response to a report from the New York Times. 

Video and photograph proof from the occasion present what’s believed to be 24-year previous Reid Jahnai Daysun climbing over the perimeter fence of the enclosure sporting a fancy dress that promotes the Solana-based meme coin, Only a Memecoin (MEMECOIN). It’s alleged that 27-year-old Neal Jabahri Duan filmed the encounter, although each males denied the fees, in response to the report. 

“Final night time, we filed a harm report with the Ichikawa Police Station,” the Ichikawa Zoo posted on X after the incident. “From tomorrow onward, with the protection and well being of the animals as our high precedence, we’ll proceed with countermeasures whereas strictly addressing any rule violations.”

The zoo, which is positioned within the suburbs of Japan’s capital metropolis, Tokyo, famous that it’s discussing a possible ban of filming, and can also be within the technique of including intrusion prevention nets and fixed patrols in restriction areas. 

No animals had been harmed and none had proven any abnormalities within the wake of the intrusion, the Zoo mentioned. 

Whereas it has closely promoted the incident on its X web page, the Only a Memecoin social media account reminded its virality-seeking community to “respect native legal guidelines and by no means put yourselves, others, or any animals in danger.”

“Wild power is a part of the tradition, however security at all times comes first,” it added, whereas providing a donation of 1 million Japanese yen (~$6,300) to the zoo.

Viral movies of the occasion, one X publish of which has amassed more than 5.7 million views, have helped the token leap round 35% within the final seven days of buying and selling, in response to CoinGecko, presently buying and selling round $0.0118, or an almost $11.9 million market cap.

The token’s success is dwarfed by the rise of 1 primarily based on Punch, the monkey that rose to fame on account of its attachment to a stuffed animal from Ikea whereas it was ostracized by the others in its enclosure. 

On the top of the monkey’s virality, that Solana meme coin (PUNCH) jumped to greater than a $43 million market cap. That very same token is roughly flat within the final 24 hours, however trades now round a $2.35 million market cap.