Punch The Monkey’s Viral Orangutan Plushie Is Back In Stock, Here’s Where To Get It
Japanese macaque Punch has been going viral for his heartwarming story – and so has his stuffed toy, which has been getting wiped off the shelves across the world. Here’s how you can get it in Singapore.
Something small, cute, and furry has stolen everyone’s hearts – and no, it’s not another iteration of Labubu (although Pop Mart has, in fact, launched a new Labubu x Sanrio blind box series). Despite us having just entered the Year of the Horse – which Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy found himself becoming an accidental icon of – the internet’s latest obsession is a little monkey. You’d have seen videos of Punch, the baby Japanese macaque, making its rounds on your social media feeds by now. You might even have shed a tear or two over his story.
Also capturing the attention of everyone is the orangutan plushie that Punch has been carrying around everywhere, a comfort toy that the zookeepers gave him after he was rejected by his mother and other primates in the group. This very plushie has also gone viral, and we bet some of you are also looking for a comfort monkey of your own. But before we dish the deets on where to get Punch’s monkey plushie in Singapore, here’s a little background on the star of the show himself.
PUNCH THE MONKEY: HIS STORY, WHERE TO VISIT HIM, AND HIS IKEA MONKEY PLUSHIE
Who is Punch the monkey and why is he so famous?
Punch (Panchi-kun) is a baby Japanese macaque, or snow monkey, born in Japan’s Ichikawa City Zoo. Unfortunately, he was rejected by his mother at birth, and the keepers had to hand-raise him, with initial integration efforts being poorly received by the rest of the monkey troop. A heartwrenching video showed Punch being dragged and chased around by larger monkeys, and the Ikea orangutan plushie was his only form of solace. Poor baby!
Wherever Punch went, his plushie followed. He clutched onto it like how a baby monkey would its mother; slept on it; and even pulled it along when climbing around and navigating rocky terrain – and needless to say this hit us right in the feels.
But all’s well that ends well. Over some time, Punch was seen having positive social interactions with the other monkeys, and it appears that he has slowly but surely gained their acceptance. In fact, Punch was even seen grooming his plushie together with a friend. Oh, our hearts.
Has Punch the monkey found a girlfriend?
Baby Punch hasn’t simply gained acceptance from the pack. It seems that he’s also found himself a lovely mate. Netizens have commented on how Punch’s girlfriend is similar in colour to his beloved plushie, while some joked that she’s only with him for the fame.
Which zoo is Punch the monkey located at?
You can visit Punch at Ichikawa City Zoo in Chiba, Japan, and it’s possible to do so on a day trip from Tokyo. Travelling there via public transport from Shinjuku station in central Tokyo will take roughly 1.5 hours. Entry is priced at just JPY440 (~S$3.56) per adult, but be prepared for crowds and queues due to Punch’s soaring popularity.
Blackpink’s Lisa visits Punch the monkey
It’s no secret by now that Lisa from Blackpink has a penchant for cute things, so it’s unsurprising that Punch the monkey caught her attention. The K-Pop star was seen visiting Punch at Ichikawa City Zoo on March 7, with her own orangutan plushie (exactly the same as Punch’s!) in tow. Standing by the barrier of Punch’s enclosure, she used the stuffed toy’s hands to excitedly “wave” to the baby monkey. What an adorable encounter.
Does Punch the monkey have Instagram or other social media accounts?
Punch does not have his own social media accounts at the moment, BUT here’s where you can stay updated on his shenanigans and daily life:
• @ichikawa_zoo on Instagram and X – official SNS of Ichikawa Zoo. The X account is more frequently updated.
• @punchmonkeyofficial on Instagram – one of the most followed fan accounts
• @tacotocco on Instagram – a Japanese retiree who’s an animal enthusiast. While her posts are mainly centred around bears (pandas especially), she’s been religiously posting daily updates on Punch as of late.
Get Punch’s Ikea monkey plushie in Singapore
Punch the monkey’s viral Djungelskog orangutan soft toy in its original size (bottom-left) and as a mini version (top-right)
Punch’s plushie bestie is the 36cm Djungelskog orangutan soft toy ($19.90) from Ikea. It was previously sold out and restocked a couple of times due to crazy demand, and as of today’s update (April 1, 2026), it’s still pending yet another restock. According to the Ikea Singapore website, it’ll be back on the shelves sometime between April 1 to 8, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
For a smaller and more palm-sized alternative, check out the mini version of the Djungelskog orangutan soft toy, which is available at Ikea Singapore for just $2.90 – that’s cheaper than a meal at a fast food restaurant. With its more compact height of 20cm, it’ll be easier to tote around or have as a desk buddy – the perfect emotional support stuffie to turn to when things get stressful at school or work.
The good thing about Ikea’s website is that you can check whether the plush toy is available for delivery and/or in-store purchases, and for the latter, the exact outlets that have it in stock at any given moment are clearly stated. There are three Ikea outlets in Singapore: Ikea Alexandra, Ikea Jurong @ JEM, and Ikea Tampines.
For more monkey madness, check out the Sandlopare vervet monkey soft toy ($29.90), a mother-child duo of a different monkey species. Aww.