Republished June 03, 2015 - 1:48 PM
Original Publication Date June 03, 2015 - 8:20 AM
MOOSE JAW, Sask. - The city of Moose Jaw, Sask., can no longer boast of being home to the world's tallest moose.
For 30 years, a statue of a moose called Mac has been a must-see attraction for the community.
But the icon has now been eclipsed by a likeness in Norway that comes in at 10.1 metres in height — 30 centimetres taller than its Canadian cousin.
The Scandinavian statue was created and produced in China, while Mac was designed in 1984 by local artist Dan Fould.
Both figures are built from steel but Mac is covered in cement with a protective coating.
Candis Kirkpatrick, executive director of Moose Jaw's tourism booth, says although they've been overshadowed, there are no plans to give Mac a facelift.
"Thirty centimetres is not a whole lot,” said Kirkpatrick, who noted that the statue has gone through tough times before.
"Eight years ago, Mac's jaw broke loose and had to be repaired. It was quite an undertaking."
She said Moose Jaw has no desire to compete with Norway, and the loss of the title only seems to have increased Mac's popularity.
"Mac is Mac. There will never be another one. We could never duplicate him." (CTV Regina)
News from © The Canadian Press, 2015