Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Wellington Airport to Remove Iconic Hobbit-Themed Eagle Sculptures
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Wellington Airport to Remove Iconic Hobbit-Themed Eagle Sculptures. After over a decade, Wellington Airport is removing its famous Hobbit-inspired eagle sculptures. The eagles, inspired by JRR Tolkien’s works, have greeted visitors since their unveiling in 2013. These giant sculptures will be taken down on Friday to make room for a new mystery exhibit. The eagles, which appeared in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, were created by Wētā Workshop. Each eagle weighs 1.2 tonnes and has a wingspan of 15 meters, with one featuring a Gandalf sculpture. Wellington Airport CEO Matt Clarke expressed the emotional impact of parting with the iconic sculptures. The eagles will be placed in storage, though no long-term plans have been made for their display. Wētā Workshop, the creators of the eagles, is collaborating on a new, locally themed replacement. The eagles were a significant feature of the airport, with one even falling during an earthquake in 2014 without causing injury.
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Keywords: Travel & Adventure,Wellington Airport,Hobbit-inspired,eagle sculptures,JRR Tolkien,The Lord of the Rings,Smaug the Magnificent,Wētā Workshop,Gandalf,sculpture removal,New Zealand,mystery exhibit,airport display,earthquake accident,sculptures,airport art,Tolkien franchise,film memorabilia,Wellington,tourism,New Zealand landmarks,pop culture,local themes,movie props
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