Moose are common in some areas of Europe like Norway and Sweden, but they are definitely not common in the Czech Republic. That’s because humans once hunted moose nearly to extinction in Central Europe. The animals are making a slow comeback in the country, but it’s still pretty rare to see them. That’s why when some fishermen in Zlín spotted a moose wandering around, they took a video, and it made headlines.
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“The European moose is one of the largest European mammals,” wrote local news in its coverage of the moose sighting. “It was exterminated by humans in Central Europe, but during the 20th century it began to return to the Czech Republic from Poland. In our country, the largest number of moose live in the Šumava Mountains on the right bank of Lipno, with approximately 15-20 individuals making their home here.”
Authorities guess this is the same moose that’s been making its way across the region, appearing in Ludgeřovice, Ostrava-Martinov, Bítov, and near Bělotín. Wildlife experts guess the moose wandered into the Czech Republic from Poland, where more of these animals live. In the Czech Republic, the European moose is listed as a “specially protected and highly endangered species.”
See the rare moose on the loose in the Czech Republic here:
Header stock image by DamianKuzdak/Getty Images
