IKEA orangutan plush sells out after viral baby monkey story

IKEA’s $20 orangutan plush sold out worldwide after a viral story showed a baby monkey clinging to it for comfort

An adorable stuffed toy from IKEA has sold out worldwide after becoming the emotional centerpiece of a viral story involving a baby monkey in Japan.

The $20 Djungelskog orangutan plush flew off shelves in the US, Japan and South Korea after heartwarming images surfaced of Punch, a seven-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo, clinging to the toy for comfort. According to local reports, Punch was rejected by his mother and struggled to bond with other monkeys in his enclosure, leading zoo staff to give him the plush companion.

Photos of the young macaque sleeping, eating and playing with the orangutan quickly spread online, striking a chord with animal lovers around the world. The toy’s sudden popularity has since turned it into a sought-after collectible.

With retail stock depleted, resellers have listed the plush on eBay for heavily marked-up prices, some asking more than $300. Multiple listings have already sold at inflated rates, as fans scramble to secure their own version of Punch’s beloved companion.

The viral attention has also led to a surge in visitors at the zoo, with long lines forming outside Punch’s enclosure. Zoo officials say it’s an unprecedented level of interest, though they’ve shared that Punch is gradually building interactions with other monkeys while still keeping his plush friend close by.