Ikea's Djungelskog soft toy has seen a dramatic increase in sales after a video of an abandoned monkey named Punch clutching the plush at a Japanese zoo went viral. The toy, a large orangutan, has become a sought-after item, with eBay Australia reporting a 650% rise in listings between January and February this year, and prices ranging from $33 to $175.
An Ikea Australia spokesperson confirmed a more than 200% increase in Djungelskog sales in the past week, with over 990 units sold across Australian stores and online. 'As global attention continues to build around Punch’s remarkable story, our iconic orangutan soft toy is now experiencing unprecedented demand,' they said, urging fans to purchase quickly as stock sells fast.
The demand was evident when a journalist, after a long journey from Sydney airport, found the toy sold out at an Ikea collection point. Returning the next morning, she secured one from a kind employee who remarked, 'Everyone has bought one. We sold out yesterday and had to call all these stores … I was like, “what is up with all these monkeys?” and then I saw the videos [of Punch] and I’m like, “I need one.”'
Despite the toy's popularity, the journalist reflected on the anthropomorphism behind the viral trend, comparing Punch's story to that of Keiko, the orca from Free Willy, who died dependent on human care after a failed reintroduction to the wild. She noted that while the plush brings comfort to viewers, it does not change the reality of the wild animal's situation.
