A plot worthy of a Hollywood comedy is unfolding in the province of East Java. At the center is the statue of the White Tiger from the village of Balonggeruk, which transformed from a laughingstock to a national treasure and investment magnet in just a week. Collectors were willing to pay a hefty sum to move the art object to Bali. But it didn't work out.
The story began in December 2025. The head of the village, located 100 kilometers from Surabaya, decided to give his fellow villagers a gift and erect a monument to the sacred protector of these lands — the mythical White Tiger.
The project budget was quite modest. The head didn't touch the treasury and instead took 3.5 million rupiahs from his own pocket. With this money, local craftsman Suvari bought cement and began his work. The result, to put it mildly, was ambiguous…
As soon as photos of the 'masterpiece' hit the Internet, it exploded. Users competed in wit, guessing what kind of creature it was:
'Mama the tigress is clearly hiding something, why does this tiger have the face of a hippopotamus?'
'It's not a tiger, it's a zebra that ate too many of granny's pies!'
'It seems this predator has attained zen and no longer wants to catch anyone'.
However, the village head and residents weren't offended by the memes. Especially since, while internet experts honed their sarcasm, Balonggeruk experienced a tourist boom. Everyone wanted to take a selfie with 'that very' viral beast.
Within days, a spontaneous market sprang up around the statue. Now, over 100 vendors sell food, drinks, and—highlight of the season!—small souvenir copies of the 'ridiculous' tiger. The statue's value skyrocketed.
An unknown art enthusiast from Bali offered 180 million rupiahs for the statue. Although, it might have been an entrepreneur who thought the statue would attract visitors.
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Had the deal gone through, the 3.5 million rupiah investment by Balonggeruk's head would have multiplied 50 fold.
But at an emergency meeting, the village residents decided not to trade in money and, despite the temptation, refused to sell the tiger.
'It's our talisman, our breadwinner, and a symbol that even a mistake can bring blessings,' the people decided.
The sculptor, Suvari, is a bit embarrassed by such fame and even promised to 'fix' the tiger to make it look more like a cat. However, tourists and authorities are asking him not to rush. After all, it is this unique, incomparable appearance that made the village famous worldwide.
The story of the tiger-hippopotamus from Balonggeruk is not the first. In 2017, the Indonesian army dismantled another tiger statue at a base in West Java. Its cartoonish appearance became fodder for internet memes.
The smiling wooden talisman in the village of Garut was meant to symbolize the military command of Siliwangi, whose logo is the head of a formidable, roaring tiger. Several years after its installation, the art object suddenly gained internet popularity.
Social media users mocked the tiger's broad grin, inserting its image into movie posters, and the parody Facebook page 'Ministry of Humor Indonesia' expressed deep grief over the 'passing' of the tiger after its removal.
Major General Herindra, commander of the Siliwangi military district, explained the misunderstanding: 'Each unit decides on its own what kind of statue to make, but sometimes the artists aren't too talented.'
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