Udon Thani netizens are enraged after a vandal drew yantra tattoos on their city’s famous rubber ducks with a marker.
The giant rubber duck and her little ducklings, obviously inspired by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s work, have been a tourist highlight for Udon Thani and a major selfie stop for tourists since 2013. So when someone decided to doodle on them, Udon netizens demanded justice for their province’s symbols.
Facebook page 1132 Udon City Hotline published Jan. 4 CCTV footage of Nong Prajak Silpakorn Park, where the ducks are displayed. In the video, a shirtless man is seen sneaking around the ducklings and quickly drawing on two of them.
The video description says “Ducklings are not sacred, please don’t give them yantra tattoo. WANTED: This vandal. Anyone who has a clue about this person can inform us. Muang Udon Thani Municipality has a reward for you.”
Itthipol Triwattanasuwan, the hilarious mayor of Muang Udon Thani District, told Now26 that the municipality does not intend to prosecute the vandal, but only wants to know his motive. He suggested that maybe the man wanted to give protection to the ducks by giving them yantra tattoos so that they wouldn’t become somebody’s meal.
As for the reward, the mayor said that he may treat the person who tips off the authorities with a dish of delicious spicy duck salad.
The giant rubber duck has been floating in the park since November of 2013. Her little ducklings joined her later. Udon Thani Municipality said the yellow duck represents peace, freedom, and unity.
Anyway, remember when the duck sadly deflated and rolled over the parking lot?
