Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

Dr. Seuss' Stolen Lorax Statue Found Communing With Nature

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Last year, a little bit of joy was stolen from the lawn of La Jolla home of the late author Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss. A two-foot-tall 300-pound bronze statue of his character the Lorax went missing in March 2012, but thanks to an anonymous tip, has been retrieved from a hiding spot in a canyon.The statue was located under some thick brush, according to the San Diego Police Department, reports NBC San Diego.

The tipster was a 22-year-old man in Montana who first went to police there in Bozeman. He claimed to know about the removal of the statue and where the Lorax was living.

Authorities in San Diego say the investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending. It is not clear if the tipster and the thief are one and the same.

Details of the crime have not been revealed. The Lorax is Seuss' earth loving character who "speaks for the trees," so one might wonder if it was just a wish to put the figure closer to local flora that prompted its unplanned move from lawn to canyon.

Support for LAist comes from

The statue was created by Geisel's stepdaughter, and is worth an estimated $10,000, however to the family, it is "priceless," notes NBC San Diego. Geisel's 90-year-old widow, Audrey, lives at the La Jolla home.

Previously
Lorax Statue Stolen from La Jolla Home of Late Dr. Seuss

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist