The public took a shine to 800kg Emil, despite his escapades halting traffic and almost endangering motorists
A footloose moose called Emil, whose summer wanderings caused havoc on Austrian roads and railways, has been captured, sedated and released in a verdant nature reserve, leaving his legions of fans wishing him well on social media.
The approximately three-year-old male, believed to have come originally from Poland or the Czech Republic, rose to online fame in August with his chaotic odyssey through parts of Austria where moose sightings are rare.
Local authorities decided to take action this week when Emil appeared ready to jump a fence on to the A1 autobahn, posing serious danger to himself and motorists. Adult male moose, among the largest mammals in Europe, can reach a weight of 800kg (1,764lb).
“An accident – wildlife experts confirm – would have risked the lives of all involved,” the regional councillor who took the decision to catch and relocate the moose, Michaela Langer-Weninger, said.
