No Interest in Vienna: Moose Emil Prefers Swimming in the Danube

A call to the hunting department of the district administration provided no clarification. They "unfortunately do not know" where the animal is located, the APA was informed. In the federal capital, he was not sighted, according to the Vienna State Police Directorate.

No Moose Sighting in Vienna

The animal seems to have avoided the city area. No reports of a moose sighting have been received by the Vienna police, a spokeswoman said in response to an APA inquiry. As recently as Sunday, it seemed that the moose, first noticed last week in the northern Weinviertel, might be making its way to the federal capital. This was suggested by a video published on Facebook by the Lower Austria State Police Directorate, which was recorded by officers from the Korneuburg inspection near Vienna.

Reports from Monday, stating that "Emil" was seen in the municipality of St. Andrä-Wördern (district of Tulln), would mean that he is traveling westward after crossing the Danube.

Police Urge Increased Caution

The police's call to the public regarding how to handle the animal from the deer family remained firm. "Emil" should neither be pursued on foot nor by car. Such actions could "have dangerous consequences for the animal and the people involved." It was also pointed out that moose are "huge" and can weigh up to 600 kilos. "A collision can cause severe damage." Animals from the deer family often suddenly run across the road, especially at dusk or at night. "The high body weight and strong build increase the risk in accidents."

Moose Rarely Visit Austria

Moose are not often seen in Austria. Klaus Hackländer, head of the Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna (BOKU), mentioned on Monday in response to an APA inquiry that there have been about six sightings per decade over the past 50 years. According to the expert, the animals have been observed particularly in the Waldviertel and Weinviertel, but also in the Mühlviertel. In the region in Upper Austria, "you see a moose every few years, as there is a small population living at the Moldau reservoir."

From the Czech border, animals - especially young bulls in search of a moose cow and new territory - like to wander further south and east, thus reaching Austria, explained Hackländer. The last moose sighting known to the BOKU professor before "Emil" was in January 2021 in the Mühlviertel.

That the antlered animal has become an attraction in Lower Austria is beyond question. Should it still seek its way to Vienna, the responsible MA49 (Forestry and Agricultural Operation) is certainly prepared.

(APA/Red)

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