Pranksters have defaced an infamous bronze surfer statue in Encinitas, Calif., enclosing it inside the mouth of a papier-mache great white shark, observers say.

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The statue named "Magic Carpet Ride," which is often the subject of derision by locals who allege its depiction of a male surfer in an effeminate and unrealistic pose, was abused early Saturday morning by an unknown person or group of persons, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Campers at nearby San Elijo State Beach say they heard noises around 4 a.m. but didn't see anything, the newspaper said Saturday.

The papier-mache artwork reportedly had been seen on the opposite side of Highway 101 where the statue stands earlier in the week and it had been moved closer to the highway over the past two days.

San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Tony Ray said there was no need for a crime report because there was no damage to the statue.

"It wasn't considered vandalism because there wasn't any permanent defacing," Ray said.