Stolen charity cow sculpture recovered in Durham

The sculpture, which is part of a fundraising effort for the North Carolina Children's Hospital, had some minor damage and will be touched up by the artist before being returned to Johnson Lexus, at at 1013 Southpoint Autopark Blvd. 

Details about its recovery or possible charged against whoever had the sculpture were not released.

The 125-pound fiberglass "Cow is Greener on the Other Side" sculpture was removed from its 400-pound concrete base outside the dealership late Saturday or early Sunday.

Johnson Lexus turned over footage from its security cameras to Durham police, said Sean Alazraki, the dealership's community relations manager. But the dealership also offered a 48-hour amnesty for the safe return of the sculpture, he said.

"Our prime concern is getting the cow back unharmed so it can benefit North Carolina Children's Hospital as intended," Alazraki said in a statement before the sculpture was recovered. "No questions asked. Simply drop it off or let us know where we can pick it up."

The sculpture is valued at $10,000, officials said.

"Having been stolen, the cow cannot be displayed or sold,” Ron Fox, vice president and owner of CowParade Global Limited, said in a statement. “There is no purpose to the theft other than harm to the children's hospital.”

A second sculpture at Johnson Lexus, "Binary Bovine," was left unharmed, officials said.

In August, two CowParade sculptures in Chapel Hill were vandalized.

An oversize bow tie was taken from a sculpture designed by fashion designer and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumnus Alexander Julian. A day later, another sculpture was upended, and a portion was broken.

Two UNC-Chapel Hill students were charged with damaging personal property in the second vandalism.