PUNCH MONKEY VIRAL STORY DRAWS RECORD CROWDS TO ICHIKAWA ZOO — Quick Facts
Punch, a baby macaque abandoned by his mother at Ichikawa City Zoo, went viral after videos showed him clutching an IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush toy for comfort. The story drove record attendance to the zoo (4x normal levels) and a surge in IKEA plush sales across multiple countries, with IKEA Japan's president visiting on February 17 to donate replacement toys.
Key Data Points
- Punch's viral clips surpassed 30 million views on TikTok and Instagram, with some videos accumulating tens of millions of views across platforms
- Ichikawa City Zoo experienced record attendance with daily visitor numbers reaching 4x normal levels following the viral story
- IKEA DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush retails for $19.99 and saw noticeable sales increases across multiple countries
- IKEA Japan President Petra Fare visited Ichikawa City Zoo on February 17, 2026, to donate replacement toys
- Punch was born July 26, 2025, abandoned by his mother, hand-raised by staff, and integrated with 60 macaques on January 19, 2026
Frequently Asked
- Why did Punch the monkey go viral?
- Videos of Punch, a baby macaque hand-raised after his mother abandoned him, clutching a stuffed IKEA orangutan toy for comfort accumulated tens of millions of views on TikTok and Instagram, resonating globally as a story of resilience.
- What is the DJUNGELSKOG toy and how much does it cost?
- The DJUNGELSKOG is IKEA's orangutan plush toy priced at $19.99, which became associated with Punch's comfort object and saw a noticeable sales increase across multiple countries following the viral story.
- How did the Punch story impact Ichikawa City Zoo attendance?
- Daily visitor numbers reached four times their usual levels, with the zoo acknowledging record attendance and longer wait times at entrance gates due to crowds wanting to see Punch in person.
- Did IKEA respond to Punch's story?
- Yes. On February 17, 2026, Petra Fare, President and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Japan, visited Ichikawa City Zoo and personally delivered multiple replacement DJUNGELSKOG toys to support Punch.
- When was Punch born and when was he integrated with other monkeys?
- Punch was born on July 26, 2025, and was integrated with approximately 60 other macaques at the zoo's Monkey Mountain on January 19, 2026, after hand-raising by caretakers.