Japanese police have arrested two US nationals after one allegedly jumped into the enclosure of an internet-famous monkey at a zoo while the other filmed the stunt.

The 24-year-old man, claiming to be a college student, is accused of scaling a fence to access Punch's enclosure on Sunday morning. The other, a 27-year-old singer, allegedly filmed the act. Both have denied the allegations.

The nine-month-old macaque gained millions of views online earlier this year after being seen hugging a stuffed toy orangutan given by keepers after being rejected by his mother.

Footage shared on social media shows a person in a cryptocurrency-promoting costume jumping over a fence into the enclosure, later being led out by a zookeeper.

The men have been arrested on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business. The zoo has implemented countermeasures including expanding viewing restrictions and installing intrusion prevention nets, and is considering a full ban on filming near the monkey enclosure.

Source: www.bbc.com