Iqaluit (May 02/05) - The etched walrus tusks by Davidee Itulu that were stolen from a climate controlled display case inside the museum in Iqaluit the night of April 10 have been returned.

"It was quite a surprise for me. I really wasn't expecting to see them again," said an ecstatic Brian Lunger, the museum's curator.

On April 22 a man, who cannot be identified because the investigation is still ongoing, walked into the museum and handed the tusks over to Lunger.

The man told him he had seen posters of the tusks around town and heard there was a reward for the tusks' safe return, Lunger said.

That reward money still hasn't been given out yet, Lunger said.

One tusk is broken and needs to be repaired, but overall the tusks seemed to be in good condition when he saw them briefly before police took the tusks for analysis, Lunger said.

The museum should have the tusks back next week.

They can be put right back where they were, Lunger said, because incredibly, there was minimal damage to the display case during the robbery.