If you were hoping to get your own emotional support monkey from IKEA, you may need to wait — the popular plush toy is currently sold out in Singapore. The 36cm Djungelskog Orangutan plush, priced at $19.90, has seen a surge in demand after Punch, an abandoned baby monkey in Japan, was filmed cuddling the toy for comfort in February. Checks on Tuesday (Feb 24) revealed that the item is unavailable on IKEA Singapore’s website and at all three of its physical outlets.

The smaller 20cm version, which retails for $2.90, remains in stock online and at the Alexandra and Jurong @ Jem branches. As visitors and social media users around the world continue to be charmed by Punch, demand for the orangutan plush has soared. Resale prices have also climbed, with one listing on eBay reaching US$102 (S$129).

Responding to queries, IKEA Singapore confirmed that the 36cm Djungelskog Orangutan is sold out across all its stores, but reassured customers that new stock is expected to arrive this week. Shoppers are advised to check the latest availability on the company’s website. Punch, also known as Panchi-kun, is a seven-month-old Japanese macaque born at Ichikawa City Zoo. After being abandoned by his mother shortly after birth, he has been raised by zoo staff.

To provide comfort, caretakers gave him the IKEA monkey plush, which he now clings to like a surrogate companion. When Punch was later introduced to an enclosure with other monkeys, viral videos showed him running back to his plush toy after being bullied by larger monkeys. In one Instagram clip posted on Feb 18, Punch attempted to approach two bigger monkeys but retreated to hug his plush after being pushed away. The hashtag #HangInTherePunch has since gained traction online, with people worldwide expressing support for the young macaque.