HELSINKI (KGTV) — Norwegians upset over the badly damaged penis-shaped rock formation Trollpikken are raising money to re-erect the popular natural wonder.
According to Norwegian media, Olav Magne Egebakken discovered the downed rock formation Saturday while jogging in the southern coastal city of Stavanger.
Experts noted drilling holes in the rock suggesting it was deliberately vandalized.
Activist Kjetil Bentsen told public broadcaster NRK that he was convinced the Trollpikken "will be rebuilt" with donated money, the Associated Press reported.
On Sunday morning, fundraising efforts to lift the phallic formation back into place generated over $10,000. Organizers are hoping to raise 200,000 Norwegian krone, roughly $23,600 in U.S. dollars.
“Folks have been saying it’s destroyed forever but that’s not true,” Sverre Garpestad told Norweigan news TV2. Garpestad is a contractor with the firm Bertelsen & Garpestad. He claimed it would be “a simple job” to fasten the stone back into place by drilling bolts and injecting a special form of mortar into “tunnels” that would secure it.
“The work can be done in an hour if we use a helicopter,” Garpestad said. “We have the Viagra it takes,” he was quoted as saying.
Police are looking for tips to find those responsible. If convicted, they face a one-year prison sentence for a serious environmental crime.
