'Phallic' owl statue mocked in Serbian town of Kikinda Published duration 15 November 2018

image copyright Reuters image caption The owl statue has raised eyebrows in the northern Serbian town of Kikinda

A recently erected owl statue in northern Serbian has drawn mockery for its allegedly phallic shape.

The 2.4 metre (8ft) terracotta sculpture was created to celebrate the town of Kikinda's status as a bird-watching hub for the world's largest roosting population of long-eared owls.

But shortly after it was raised, critics decried it as obscene.

The original Facebook post on the town's page to celebrate the statue received dozens of mocking comments.

"This is great," wrote one. "I just can't figure out what it reminds me of".

"I love owls and I love the city but this sculpture is pure failure," another said.

There was also anger, with some speaking of the "shame" it has brought to Kikinda.

"Now everyone will make fun of us," one Facebook user commented.

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The statue was not intended to be "a copy" of an owl, but rather a "stylised sculpture" with "an elongated, tubular body", he said.

"It is clear... that everyone does not understand contemporary art," he said, while admitting he may have "some technical limitations".