Viral Baby Monkey Sends IKEA Toy Into Global Frenzy As $20 Plush Sells Out — With Resale Prices Hitting $350
A heart-melting story from a Japanese zoo has unexpectedly sparked a global shopping frenzy.
A baby monkey named Punch captured the internet’s attention after videos showed him clinging tightly to a large stuffed toy — treating it like a comforting companion.
The emotional clips quickly spread across TikTok and social media, turning the plush toy into one of the most sought-after items online.
Now the once-ordinary IKEA soft toy has completely sold out in several countries — and some resellers are attempting to flip the $20 plush for as much as $350 on eBay.
The Baby Monkey That Broke The Internet
Punch is a young Japanese macaque living at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo.
Shortly after he was born in 2025, zoo staff noticed something unusual — his mother rejected him, leaving the tiny monkey alone during his earliest days.
To help comfort the infant primate, caretakers gave him a large stuffed orangutan toy.
What happened next melted hearts around the world.
Videos began circulating online showing Punch hugging the toy, dragging it around the enclosure and cuddling it whenever other monkeys chased him away.
The internet quickly gave the plush toy a nickname: “Oran-Mama.”
The Stuffed Toy That Became His Surrogate Parent
For young macaques, clinging to their mothers is an essential survival instinct.
Without that physical contact, baby monkeys can struggle to develop normally.
Zookeepers hoped the stuffed toy would mimic the shape and feel of a parent, giving Punch something to hold onto during stressful moments.
It worked.
The tiny monkey developed a clear attachment to the plush orangutan, often wrapping his arms around it or sitting quietly beside it.
Soon, millions of people online were rooting for the little monkey.
Photo credit: Ichikawa City Zoo / Reuters
The Internet Fell In Love With Punch
Once the footage began circulating online, Punch’s story spread rapidly across social media platforms.
Hashtags supporting the young monkey began trending as viewers followed updates about his life at the zoo.
The emotional storyline — an abandoned baby animal finding comfort in a toy — struck a chord with millions.
Soon, people wanted to buy the exact same plush toy he was hugging.
The stuffed orangutan is part of IKEA’s DJUNGELSKOG soft-toy collection, which includes several jungle animal plushies.
What started as a touching moment inside a zoo suddenly became a global retail phenomenon.
IKEA Stores Suddenly Sold Out
Demand skyrocketed almost overnight.
Customers began searching for the toy online and heading to IKEA stores hoping to find the same plush companion.
Within days, the toy reportedly sold out in multiple markets including Japan, the United States and South Korea.
Some stores even experienced stock shortages as fans rushed to get their hands on the cuddly orangutan.
For many buyers, the appeal wasn’t just the toy itself.
It was the emotional story behind it.
People felt like they were taking home a small piece of Punch’s viral journey.
Photo credit: IKEA
The $20 Toy Now Selling For Hundreds
Whenever something goes viral online, opportunistic resellers are never far behind.
The IKEA plush normally costs around $20 at retail.
But as demand surged, listings began appearing on resale sites like eBay at dramatically inflated prices.
Some sellers listed the toy for up to $350, turning the once-simple stuffed animal into a collectible internet sensation.
That’s more than 15 times the original price.
Not every listing sold for that amount, but the spike highlighted how quickly viral trends can influence online marketplaces.
IKEA Even Stepped In
The furniture giant soon noticed the attention surrounding Punch and his stuffed companion.
Representatives from IKEA Japan visited the zoo and donated additional plush toys to ensure the young monkey would always have a comforting object nearby.
The company also expressed hope that Punch would eventually become more comfortable with the other monkeys in his group.
As he grows older, zookeepers expect him to rely less on the toy and integrate more fully into the troop.
But for now, the stuffed orangutan remains an important source of comfort.
The Bigger Impact Of A Viral Animal Story
Punch’s story has also had unexpected effects beyond toy sales.
The zoo reported a surge in visitors eager to see the viral monkey in person.
Animal lovers from across Japan and even overseas began traveling to Ichikawa City Zoo to catch a glimpse of him.
Online, supporters continue sharing updates and photos while cheering for his progress as he gradually bonds with other macaques.
In a world where viral content often fades quickly, Punch’s story has managed to create something surprisingly positive — awareness about animal behaviour, wildlife care and the emotional lives of primates.
And of course, it also created the internet’s newest must-have plush toy.
Key Points Summary
• A baby monkey named Punch went viral after cuddling a stuffed toy at a Japanese zoo.
• The monkey was given the toy after being rejected by his mother.
• The plush is an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan soft toy.
• Viral videos of Punch hugging the toy spread across social media.
• The toy quickly sold out in several countries.
• Resellers began listing the $20 toy online for as much as $350.
• IKEA later donated additional plush toys to the zoo for Punch.