CHIBA (TR) – Police have arrested two U.S. citizens for trespassing into a monkey enclosure at a zoo here, with one suspect claiming the bizarre stunt was the result of a lost gambling wager, reports TBS News (May 19).
Jahnai Reid, 24, and Jahbari Neal, 27, are accused of trespassing into the restricted “Monkey Mountain” at the Ichikawa City Botanical and Zoological Gardens on Sunday morning and obstructing the facility’s business operations.
According to police, Reid donned a full-body animal costume and climbed into the macaque enclosure while Neal filmed the act.
Despite the allegations, both men are currently denying the charges.
However, investigative sources revealed that prior to his formal arrest, Reid admitted to officers that the prank was a forfeit, stating, “I had to do it because I lost a soccer bet.”
Punch-kun
The Ichikawa zoo has recently enjoyed a surge in popularity thanks to a viral baby monkey affectionately known to visitors as Punch-kun.
In the wake of the trespassing incident, zoo management announced that starting Thursday, the public viewing area has been moved further back from the enclosure fences.
Officials are also considering implementing a total ban on photography at the monkey mountain to prevent further disruptions.
