For more than ten years, two enormous eagle sculptures inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's works have greeted visitors at Wellington Airport in New Zealand. However, airport authorities have announced they will be unfastened from their lofty perch this Friday to allow for a brand-new mystery exhibit.
These majestic eagles, which weigh in at a hefty 1.2 tonnes each and boast a wingspan of 15 meters, captured the imaginations of tourists worldwide. Their role as messengers in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, directed by New Zealand’s own Sir Peter Jackson, made them iconic.
Wellington Airport's CEO, Matt Clarke, expressed mixed emotions over the eagles’ departure, stating, “It's not unusual to see airborne departures from Wellington Airport, but in this case, it will be emotional for us.”
While the eagles will be stored with no current plan for their future, fans won’t be completely disappointed; Smaug the dragon from The Hobbit will remain on display at the check-in area.
The sculptures were unveiled in 2013 amidst the launch of The Hobbit trilogy and were crafted by Wētā Workshop, famed for creating props for the films. Clarke hinted that an exciting, locally themed replacement is already in the works, with plans to reveal more later this year.
Interestingly, one of the eagles once fell during an earthquake in 2014, but fortunately, no one was hurt. As we await the new exhibit, it's clear the skies of Wellington hold more surprises.
