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Giant Rubber Duck Brings 'Joy' To Maine Harbor

BELFAST, Maine (CBS/AP) — The sudden appearance of a giant rubber duck in a Maine harbor is a whimsical whodunit that's defied sleuths so far.

The yellow waterfowl emblazoned with the word "joy" appeared in Belfast Harbor over the weekend, and it's a mystery who put it there.

Harbor Master Katherine Given told the Bangor Daily News that the 25-foot-tall duck doesn't pose a navigational hazard, so there's no rush to shoo it away.

"Everybody loves it," Given said. "I have no idea who owns it, but it kind of fits Belfast. A lot of people want to keep it here."

Boston Magazine reports that the group behind the duck display says it's a symbol of childhood.

"JOY simply is fowl play," the group said. "In this day in age of such bitter divisiveness in our country, we wanted to put forth a reminder of our commonalities instead of our differences."

Maine is not the first place to be visited by a big bath-time toy. Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's "Rubber Duck" installation has been spotted in numerous places around the world including Australia, Hong Kong, Toronto and Pittsburgh.

2013 Sydney Festival Launches
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 05: Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman's giant Rubber Duck enters Cockle Bay Wharf on opening day of the Sydney Festival January 5, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney festival opening, previously 'Sydney Festival First Night', was scaled back from previous years, when crowds reached as many as 60,000 for the launch. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images)

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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