The Giant Mango Was Stolen

@JudyEv (341742)
Rockingham, Australia
March 16, 2017 10:49pm CST
I've been documenting some of Australia's big icons which have appeared here and there, usually in the hope of attracting additional tourists to an area. Another of these big icons is a mango. It is 10 metres tall by 8 metres across and is situated outside the Bowen Visitor Information Centre in North Queensland. Its value is estimated at around $90,000. In 2014, the mango was 'stolen' and removed by crane in the dead of night. Later, fast food chain Nando's admitted it was a publicity stunt. At the time it attracted world-wide attention. Mangoes are widely grown in Australia's tropical regions and is a favourite with many. The photo is from Wikimedia: By Amos T Fairchild (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
38 people like this
39 responses
Always smiling
@allknowing (137552)
• India
17 Mar 17
I learnt something today. I did not know Mangoes grow in Australia. I have a few mango trees and they yield well
7 people like this
aubrey
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
18 Mar 17
@Butchcass4 I also thought mangoes are for tropical countries only
3 people like this
Kimberly Cass
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
17 Mar 17
I did not know Mangoes grow in Australia either, so I too learned something new.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Yes, there are a lot of mango trees in Australia in our northern regions.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (471969)
• Switzerland
17 Mar 17
Honestly I cannot understand the meaning of what they did. It should be considered "stealing" anyway in most countries.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (471969)
• Switzerland
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv Okay, it was nothing to take care of.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
This is Australia, Anna, and Queensland as well so it is even more likely to be seen as a prank. It wasn't reported as stolen to the police so everyone thought it would find its way home eventually.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@LadyDuck Just a bit of a prank - but a very big prank. Imagine trying to move the thing!
2 people like this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (13117)
• Ireland
17 Mar 17
@judyev Now a mango that big is just creepy! When we were young we were only allowed to eat mangoes in the bath so as not to get our clothes all sticky with mango juice.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
That's a good idea. Maybe I should do that when I eat watermelon!
1 person likes this
PaintsOnSlate
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
17 Mar 17
@Fleura you made me laugh...I wonder if anyone in Canada would think that is funny...just for fun I'm going to do that on my scraps. I save my small pieces and when I have time I paint on them with funny saying and sell them at shows - as a show special for $5. Its amazing how many people will buy a laugh for $5 and it is a profitable way to use my scarps...
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@Fleura That would make a great sign! I'd buy one that said that!
2 people like this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
17 Mar 17
A publicity stunt, but why??
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
I have no idea. I can't imagine how it would work but apparently it brought more tourists - but if the mango isn't there, why come?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Mar 17
@fishtiger58 Probably something thought up by a group who'd had a bit too much to drink.
1 person likes this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Mar 17
@JudyEv A strange deal all the way around me thinks.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19588)
• London, England
17 Mar 17
I was wondering how they managed to nick it. Not the sort of thing you can stick in a pocket.
3 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (30539)
• United Kingdom
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv @Ronrybs So instead of going to visit the giant mango, people went to visit the place where the giant mango used to be? That's even funnier!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Apparently they brought in a crane. It sounds the sort of thing a group of drunken Aussies would do! It was returned within a week I think but increased the tourist trade which was the idea behind it.
1 person likes this
Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (19588)
• London, England
17 Mar 17
@Fleura I have been to places where things used to be, but never any gaint fruit!
2 people like this
Pammoo Raj Ratan
@pammooratan (4668)
• India
17 Mar 17
Pic shows it is really amazing. Mangoes are grown in our country in a large number.We like it very much.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
It is a very popular fruit isn't it? Australians are very fond of it too.
Pammoo Raj Ratan
@pammooratan (4668)
• India
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv Yes it is.I our country also it is liked most.
1 person likes this
rebel_woman06
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
17 Mar 17
So that big mango was returned or was the place where it is has been really converted to a fast food chain? And is that the famous variety of mango there in Australia?
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
The mango was returned after about a week I think. There are a lot of mangoes grown in Australia. I don't know what variety they are or even if there are different varieties.
1 person likes this
aubrey
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
17 Mar 17
Wow that's really a giant mango. It would be heavy to stole. Mangoes are popular fruit here in my country but we don't have giant mangoes for attraction
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Imagine bringing in a crane at night to spirit it away!
Barbara Radisavlejvic
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
17 Mar 17
I'll bet no one ever thought someone could steal something so big. Was it ever returned?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Yes, it was returned quite quickly. It seems a very odd thing to do.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
@bagarad I'm not really sure. I do know they needed a crane to remove it so I guess they needed one to return it.
1 person likes this
Hazel Vee
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
17 Mar 17
Wow! love the photo! ..
2 people like this
Hazel Vee
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
18 Mar 17
@JudyEv it sure it's huge! you can see it from miles away ..
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
@epiffanie So you've seen it? How cool is that?
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
It's huge isn't it? Look at the guy standing beside it and how small he looks!
1 person likes this
Bojel
@jobelbojel (35987)
• Philippines
17 Mar 17
That is a huge mango on the background.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Yes, it is 10 metres tall. It makes the man look very small.
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
17 Mar 17
Can you imagine how much mango juice? I am waiting for the world's largest vegemite can.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
That's interesting. No-one has thought to do that! I think the name is now owned by an American company so perhaps you might see it in the US soon.
1 person likes this
Amanda
@amandajay (23264)
• New Zealand
17 Mar 17
Another big one... This is really nice.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
They have done a great job of this one. It really looks like a mango and is a good colour.
1 person likes this
Amanda
@amandajay (23264)
• New Zealand
20 Mar 17
@JudyEv yes. Indeed. Great color combination
1 person likes this
The Invisible Man
@TheInvisibleMan (17597)
•
17 Mar 17
My life would be complete with a mango like that!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Roast Dorking chicken then mango for dessert.
1 person likes this
The Invisible Man
@TheInvisibleMan (17597)
•
17 Mar 17
1 person likes this
AbbyGreenhill
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
17 Mar 17
Publicity stunt? That's a little odd.
1 person likes this
AbbyGreenhill
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
18 Mar 17
@JudyEv Things like that usually do. They just did a segment on our local news about an area where tourists go to see the sunset in Chattanooga. The tourists are blocking homes and driveways and causing problems. Now that it's been on TV I bet more tourists to go see what it's all about.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
The newspapers articles at the time say it helped boost tourism.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
@AbbyGreenhill Yes, I bet that's what will happen.
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
17 Mar 17
going to say, how in the world could something that big get stolen!
1 person likes this
Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Mar 17
@JudyEv wild that no one saw!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
@Jessicalynnt Wouldn't it be exciting? Bringing in a huge crane in the middle of the night and hoping no-one was watching?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
They brought in a crane at night. Pretty clever feat!
1 person likes this
Inlemay
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
19 Mar 17
while I was writing about the BIG BIRD, and the BIG ROO and all the other BIG"S you have shown us, a thought came to me - WHY do the Australians build such outrageous displays - was Gulliver on his travels involved somehow?
1 person likes this
Inlemay
@Inlemay (17713)
• South Africa
20 Mar 17
@JudyEv that should be your next topic - Why do the Australians BUILD BIG images of everything that moves or grown on the Australian continent? BTW our Australian friends from Orange arrive next week - all excited.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
I've no idea why we do this.. Maybe it's to do with having such 'big' spaces around. I don't think Gulliver had much to do with it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Mar 17
@Inlemay I don't think Orange has a big orange but it should have. :)
Gus Kilthau
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
18 Mar 17
@JudyEv - Ms Judy - Good pranks are those that do little or no harm, like this one. /bye-the-bye... I keep on looking for Vince's stuff over there on 500px, but I have yet to find a way to locate any of his pages. -Gus-
1 person likes this
Gus Kilthau
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
18 Mar 17
@JudyEv - Ms Judy - I finally found the "name search" box after staring at the monitor screen until the glass melted. I do not know why this website utilizes print that, in some case (such as that search box) is barely visible. I especially liked the image of the pendant flowers on the vine by Vince. I tried to leave a message for him telling of that enjoyment, but I do not think that the message "took." Overall, that photo website is a real jewel, with most of the pix being both good and interesting. -Gus-
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Mar 17
@Ceerios I'm glad you found the search box in the finish. And I'll tell Vince you liked his photo. Is this a likely site for you?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
If you type 'Vince Evans' in the search box, they'll come up - or they did for me. He only has a very few. He has got all interested in GuruShots which runs competitions but I don't think the photos have the creator's name on them.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (55131)
•
17 Mar 17
I love mangoes. There are two large trees at my home.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@Kandae11 It's only grown in the tropics but is generally widely available in greengrocers although only in season of course.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Many Australians would be SO jealous of you!
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (55131)
•
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv You did say it is widely grown in Australia., so I doubt there would be jealousy over my two trees.
1 person likes this
Albena Ivanova
@WriterAI (5373)
• Bulgaria
10 Jun 17
I have just posted a discussion, where I mentioned mango too. You could read it, friend.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (341742)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 17
Are mangoes grown in Bulgaria? We are travelling at the moment so I am not able to keep up very many discussions.
1 person likes this
Albena Ivanova
@WriterAI (5373)
• Bulgaria
11 Jun 17
@JudyEv No, only imported.
1 person likes this