

After enchanting the world, spawning imitators, causing multiple SCMP orgasms, and surviving a purported assassination attempt, alas, Florentjin Hofman’s giant rubber duck is dead, reportedly killed by the 6.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Taiwan Thursday. Taiwan held a moment of silence to mourn its passing.

It seems the duck has met a rather untimely (and less than dignified) end, following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan Thursday. Taiwanese officials said that the quake caused the 59-foot sculpture to deflate while on display in Taoyuan township. When workers attempted to re-inflate the duck, its rear end exploded, “rendering it a flattened yellow disc floating on a pond.”

Officials said the damage to the duck’s rear would be difficult to repair, an announcement that upset many Taoyuan’s residents — including county Councilor Chan Chiang-tsun, who called for 10-second silence in tribute to the fallen duck.

Deflated but not forgotten……well, at least until The Kaohsiung city government whips out the spare and Godzilla’s bath toy should be up and charming the public with its apolitical wholesomeness in no time.