Pokemon statue appears in New Orleans park

NEW ORLEANS: Amid the craze over virtual characters in the smartphone-based "Pokemon Go" game, a Pokemon that people can see with their own eyes is grabbing attention in New Orleans.

Someone put up a statue of the iconic Pokemon, Pikachu, at the center of a broken fountain in a park over the weekend.

Pictures show the Pikachu with his arms folded standing on a cement base with a Pokeball on the side. The inscription "#POKEMONUMENT" is also written in the cement .

Pokemon fans have posted selfies with the statue on social media. One picture shows someone in a Pikachu costume posing with it.

New Orleans police tell ABC News they have no plans to move the statue.