IKEA stores in several countries have reported shortages of an orangutan soft toy after videos of a baby monkey named Punch went viral, triggering a rush for the product and related versions.
The surge has been linked to increased online searches for the “IKEA orangutan plush”, “Djungelskog orangutan”, and “Punch monkey” as shoppers tried to match the toy seen in the clips.
Punch is a young Japanese macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo near Tokyo. Media reports say he was rejected by his mother and initially struggled to integrate with other macaques.
Zookeepers gave him a plush orangutan for comfort, and the monkey was filmed clinging to it while other monkeys approached. The footage spread widely on TikTok and other platforms.
While much attention has focused on the full-size orangutan plush, IKEA also sells smaller versions priced around $5 in some markets, which have drawn interest as lower-cost substitutes when the larger toy is out of stock.
What drove the spike in demand
The product most frequently identified in coverage is IKEA’s DJUNGELSKOG orangutan soft toy. IKEA listings describe an orangutan plush designed to “hang” using hook-and-loop fasteners, which matches how the toy appears in the viral clips.
The story developed quickly in February 2026 as the clips spread and a supportive slogan for Punch circulated online. Some outlets reported that the toy was nicknamed “Ora-mama” by viewers.
For retailers, the notable point is the pathway from a social media narrative to product discovery. Reports describe shoppers attempting to buy the same orangutan plush in multiple regions, including Japan, the US and South Korea, with similar demand reported in Singapore and the UK.
How IKEA stock and pricing played out
Several publishers reported that the orangutan plush became sold out or low in stock across multiple markets. The Independent said availability was tight across many UK stores.
The Straits Times reported the 36cm version was sold out in Singapore, and quoted IKEA Singapore saying it was expected to be restocked “within this week”.
Where shoppers could not find the main item, smaller variants helped absorb some demand. IKEA’s mini DJUNGELSKOG orangutan is listed at $4.99 in Australia and €4.99 in Austria, illustrating why the product is often described as a “$5 toy” in summaries and social posts.
Coverage also tracked a fast-moving resale market. Business Insider reported the full-size plush sells for $19.99 in the US and said listings appeared on resale platforms at much higher prices. Similar reporting elsewhere cited resale prices rising into the hundreds of dollars.
Alongside the retail run on the product, multiple outlets reported IKEA responded by donating additional plush toys and supplies to the zoo and by indicating restocks were planned.
What this means for retail footfall
The immediate commercial effect was not limited to online orders. Reports linked the viral moment to increased consumer attention that can translate into store visits when shoppers check local availability, reserve stock, or search for alternatives in person.
The Independent specifically framed the UK situation as widespread low stock or sell-outs, a pattern that typically pushes customers to visit multiple stores or switch to click-and-collect where available.
The episode also shows how low-priced items can become high-visibility “destination” products. A $5 mini plush is an easy add-on for shoppers already visiting IKEA, and it can pull in new customers who might not otherwise plan a trip.
Even when the best-known version is the full-size orangutan (around $20 in some markets), the existence of a lower-priced substitute allows demand to spread across price points.
Finally, the story highlights the speed at which a niche product name can become a search term. “Djungelskog” is not an intuitive keyword for most consumers, yet it became central to product discovery as news and social posts repeated it.
For retailers, that matters because unusual product names can either slow down search or, once widely shared, become a precise demand signal that drives high-intent traffic to product pages and store stock checkers.
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