At a guess they will have cut it up to be more easily transported. A skilled metal worker could reassemble it without it being apparent to most observers (though not entirely undetectable). I imagine it was originally assembled from pieces too.

I don't understand the desire to possess great cultural icons that cannot be shared with anyone else because they are stolen, but the market in such items is clear evidence that some folks have that desire.

The good thing here is that it has been recovered, and not disappeared into the shadowy world of stolen icons.