Moose Emil’s Lower Austria journey ends in silence

One year after moose Emil was first spotted in Lower Austria, sightings have almost disappeared and his current whereabouts are unknown, ORF reported. The animal became one of the province’s best-known wanderers, attracting a following and even being named Austria’s word of the year for 2025.

Emil was first seen in the Weinviertel region on August 19, 2025. He initially moved around Herrnbaumgarten, Poysdorf and Großkrut, all in the Mistelbach district, before heading towards the Vienna area and the Tullnerfeld a few days later.

Photos and videos of the moose were repeatedly shared on social media. A Facebook group was created to collect sightings and track his route. Emil was also spotted in more densely populated places, including Korneuburg, Langenzersdorf and St. Pölten.

His journey was not always without danger. Emil repeatedly came close to road traffic, and railway services on the Weststrecke railway line were temporarily halted after he approached the tracks.

At the end of August, he travelled through the Tullnerfeld, crossed a road near Egelsee in the St. Pölten district and then rested in a field. The Danube also failed to stop him. Emil swam across the river and continued west.

He was later sighted in Upper Austria, where he was eventually tranquilised and taken to the Bohemian Forest near the Czech border. By then, Emil was known far beyond Lower Austria.

Interest in him continued for months. “Elch Emil” was chosen as Austria’s word of the year for 2025, while members of the Facebook group continued to share possible sightings and updates.

The group has since become much quieter. There have been few updates since May, and the last reported sighting was in Bavaria at Pentecost. One year after his first appearance in Lower Austria, Emil is remembered as a moose that crossed seven districts within a few weeks and became a minor celebrity.