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IKEA's orangutan plushie is suddenly one of the Internet's most wanted toys, and it's all thanks to Punch, the beloved monkey who has recently captured hearts worldwide
Punch, a seven-month-old Japanese macaque living at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba prefecture, Japan, was abandoned by his mother shortly after birth in July 2025 and has since been raised by zoo staff.
To provide comfort during his early development, caretakers introduced a stuffed orangutan when he was just a few days old. Baby macaques typically depend heavily on maternal contact, and Punch quickly formed a strong attachment to the toy.
Clips shared online throughout February showed Punch frequently carrying the plushie around his enclosure
One video that gained significant traction showed the young monkey running to hug the toy after a difficult interaction with other macaques, drawing sympathy from viewers worldwide.
The footage rapidly circulated on TikTok and other platforms, turning Punch into an unexpected global Internet star.
Warning: Footage below may be distressing for some. Viewer discretion is advised.
The videos also sparked concern among viewers who worried about Punch's safety.
In response, the Ichikawa City Zoological and Botanical Gardens issued a statement clarifying that the incident was part of normal macaque social behaviour.
According to zookeepers, Punch had approached another baby monkey in an attempt to interact but was scolded and briefly dragged by an adult monkey believed to be the baby's mother acting protectively. The zoo added that Punch later returned to socialising with the troop as usual and is gradually learning to integrate with the group.
"In order to integrate Punch into other Japanese monkey troops, we anticipated that this kind of challenge may arise. Although Punch has been scolded many times by other monkeys, no single monkey has shown serious aggression toward him," the zoo mentioned.
They also added in their statement that, "While Punch is scolded, he shows resilience and mental strength. When you observe these disciplinary behaviours from other troop members toward Punch when he tries to communicate with them, we would like you to support Punch's effort rather than feel sorry for him."
Following the viral attention, IKEA outlets reported increased interest in their 36cm orangutan plushie
IKEA Singapore confirmed that the toy sold out both online and in physical stores, with restocks expected soon. Meanwhile, the stuffed toy reportedly sold out in Canada as well.
Similar spikes in demand were also reported in Japan, the US, and South Korea.
The surge has even led to resale listings online, where the plushie is being sold at significantly marked-up prices compared to its original retail cost
IKEA said it was thrilled to see the toy bringing comfort to Punch and resonating with audiences globally, noting that the item has long been a popular product but recently gained renewed attention due to the viral videos.
At the time of writing, the orangutan plushie appears to still be available through IKEA Malaysia's website, retailing for RM49.
Ichikawa City Zoo has also experienced an increase in visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the viral macaque
According to updates shared by the zoo, Punch is gradually adapting to social life within the monkey troop, with caretakers observing calmer interactions and signs of improved integration.
