Has anyone seen a giant mango? If so, Australia is missing one.
Bowen in northern Queensland lost one of its main tourist attractions this week after the town's "Big Mango" was stolen by a team of thieves early Monday, according to media reports. Closed-circuit television footage from the scene shows a mobile crane pulling up to the mango production capital's prized statue shortly after 2 a.m.
At first, tourism officials thought reports of the mango theft were a joke, according to Sky News. (The jury is still out on whether this entire scheme is just an elaborate publicity stunt.) But, sure enough, the fake fruit, which weighs an estimated 10 metric tons (about 22,000 pounds), was nowhere to be seen Monday morning.
However, authorities may have a lead on the whereabouts of the "Big Mango." According to The Whitsunday Times, an advertisement offering to sell a 10-meter mango for $300 popped up on a classifieds website on Monday. Apparently, the poster is also willing to trade the massive mango for a giant banana or kangaroo.
No formal complaint has been filed with local police, and Bowen's tourism center is just hoping the "Big Mango" will be returned, reports note.
"At the end of the day it’s a bloody big mango and I’m sure someone will see it and we’ll find it anyway," local tourism chairman Paul McLaughlin said, according to the Brisbane Times.
Related
Before You Go
