Chilean Officials Urge The British Museum to Return Statues to Easter Island

Chilean officials and campaigners have called on the British Museum to return two moai statues to Easter Island that were taken by British surveyors in 1868.

In a January interview with Radio Chiloé, Chilean president Gabriel Boric expressed support for the efforts of campaigners on social media urging the British Museum to return the statues. Several high profile Chilean influencers, including Mike Milfort, have posted in support of their return.

Social media users flooded the comments on recent Instagram posts by the British Museum, with some individuals urging the museum to return the moai to Easter Island and others calling out the museum for other “stolen” artifacts.

According to the British Museum’s website, the museum currently has two moai on display: Hoa Hakananai’a, the large stone statue shown in the footage, and Moai Hava, a smaller stone statue. The museum says both were taken from Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, by British surveyors in 1868.

Connor Watson, a senior press officer for the British Museum, said that the museum has “good and open relations with colleagues in Rapa Nui,” and that regular visits take place between Rapa Nui colleagues and museum collaborators.

“These events have strengthened relationships with the community, and laid the foundation for further collaborations.” Credit: The British Museum via Storyful

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