IKEA Plush Toy Carried by Viral Monkey Sells on eBay for ₹ 29,000

IKEA's Djungelskog Orangutan Plush Toy Sells Out Amid Global Attention

Key Findings:

• The Djungelskog orangutan plush toy, originally priced at $20 (approximately Rs 1,650), has sold out at IKEA stores in the United States, Japan, and South Korea.
• Listings on eBay show the toy being offered for as much as $350 (roughly Rs 29,000) more than its original retail price.

Market Reaction:

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• The surge in demand follows the circulation of photographs featuring Punch, a seven-month-old macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan, who was seen interacting with the plush toy.
• Observers noted that the young macaque treated the toy as a substitute maternal figure, leading to a global reaction and a secondary resale market.
• Buyers are willing to pay substantially above the original price point, with one seller reselling the toy for $51.99 (around Rs 4,300) each.

Zoo Update:

• Thousands of visitors have reportedly travelled to Ichikawa City Zoo to see Punch and his plush companion in person, with long queues forming outside the enclosure.
• The zoo has provided an update on Punch's social development, stating that he is "gradually deepening his interactions with the other monkeys in his group."
• Punch continues to be monitored as he adapts to group dynamics within his enclosure.

IKEA Response:

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• Petra Färe, President and Chief Sustainability Officer of IKEA Japan, visited Ichikawa City Zoo to donate additional Djungelskog orangutan toys to ensure Punch would always have one available.
• IKEA has not formally announced a special production run tied to the incident.