The summit of Gruenten, a mountain of 1,738 metres near the border with Austria, is now adorned with a new statue. This one, also made of wood, is even taller and supported by several beams.

It is unclear who put the replacement there, only adding to the mystery surrounding the penis.

A webcam installed at the nearby Gruentenlifte ski resort provided few answers, just blurry footage of a new structure possibly being erected.

The saga garnered international attention after the first penis was toppled, reinstated and then disappeared, all within a matter of weeks. No one knows who put it there in the first place.

The penis, which had stood there for years, is listed on Google Maps as a cultural landmark.

Police have launched an investigation into the matter, but so far without success.

“There has been no movement on the issue,” a spokesman said on Thursday. “It also remains unclear whether what we are dealing with is a crime.”

Possible owners of the phalluses have not come forward.