- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Draper Today
By the People, for the People
IKEA Struggles to Keep Orangutan Plush in Stock After Viral Baby Monkey
The DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush has sold out across IKEA stores worldwide after a baby macaque named Punch went viral for carrying around the toy.
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
After a baby macaque named Punch went viral for carrying around an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush toy, the retailer has been unable to keep the popular item in stock across its stores worldwide. The Draper, Utah IKEA location reported a "huge" increase in sales of the orangutan plush as Punch's story spread online, leading to shortages as people rushed to purchase the same toy.
Why it matters
The viral popularity of Punch and his IKEA plush toy highlights the power of social media to drive consumer trends and demand. IKEA has embraced the opportunity to inspire curiosity and compassion for endangered species like orangutans, aligning with the company's values around play and nature.
The details
Punch is a baby macaque living at a zoo near Tokyo who was abandoned by his mother after birth. Zookeepers gave him the DJUNGELSKOG plush toy to help train him to cling, a crucial skill for newborn macaques. Images and videos of Punch and his beloved toy quickly went viral online, leading to a surge in demand for the same IKEA product. The Draper, Utah IKEA store reported selling out of the orangutan plush and being unable to keep it in stock, both in-store and through online ordering.
- Punch the baby macaque went viral in the past few weeks.
The players
Punch
A baby macaque living at a zoo near Tokyo who was abandoned by his mother after birth and given an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG plush toy to help him learn to cling, a crucial skill for newborn macaques.
IKEA
A multinational furniture retailer that sells the DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush toy that Punch the baby macaque became attached to, leading to a surge in demand and shortages at IKEA stores worldwide.
Andrea Rivers
The local marketing leader with IKEA in Draper, Utah, who reported a "huge" increase in sales of the DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush toy due to Punch's viral popularity.
What they’re saying
“IKEA believes play is such an important part of life. That's why we're thrilled to see the enthusiasm from children and adults alike as they come together to support wildlife and learn more about the world's beautiful and endangered species, including orangutans and chimpanzees.”
— Andrea Rivers, Local marketing leader, IKEA Draper (KTVX)
The takeaway
The viral popularity of Punch the baby macaque and his IKEA plush toy demonstrates the power of social media to drive consumer trends and demand, while also highlighting IKEA's efforts to inspire curiosity and compassion for endangered species through its product offerings.
