A landmark statue of the Little Mermaid in the Danish capital Copenhagen was found covered in paint early Tuesday in an apparent anti-whaling stunt, police and local media said.

The statue, just 1.25 meters high, is located in Copenhagen harbor. The iconic statue of the beautiful girl with the tail of a fish was covered in red paint, images showed.

On the ground before the statue was written "Denmark defend the whales of the Faeroe Islands," a likely reference to the annual pilot whales drive in the North Atlantic islands during the summer months.

Islanders are allowed to drive herds of pilot whales into shallow waters, where they are stabbed to death. The meat and blubber eventually are shared.

Local authorities have dispatched a crew to remove the paint.

The statue was unveiled in 1913 and inspired by one of the fairy tales penned by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.

Over the years the statue has been targeted by various vandals and protesters who have painted it, and even chopped off its head and an arm.