The Indonesian army has demolished a tiger statue at a base in West Java after its cartoonish appearance became fodder for internet memes.

The grinning wooden mascot in a village in Garut was meant to represent the Siliwangi Military Command, whose logo is a fearsome, roaring tiger's head.

The statue was put in place some years ago but only recently gained fame online, the BBC reported.

Social media users have mocked its cheesy grin, inserting it into movie posters, while the parodic Indonesian Humour Ministry Facebook page declared its sadness for the tiger's passing.

It "will always be remembered" for its "cheerful" face, said a post on the Kementrian Humor Indonesia page depicting the statue as an angel ascending to heaven, being saluted by a tearful soldier.