How a rogue moose wandering around Czechia has become a national darling

In a country known for beer, castles, and hiking trails, few expected that a moose would steal the nation’s heart. But that’s exactly what Emil, a European moose with a taste for travel, has done this summer in Czechia, as he wanders across the eastern part of the country like a furry folk hero on an unscripted road trip.

Nicknamed Emil by adoring locals, the towering hoofed animal first made headlines in early June when he was spotted lounging in a garden in Ludgeřovice, Ostrava. Since then, he has become a sensation on social media and in newsrooms alike, with wildlife experts, villagers, and commuters all chiming in on his next move.

From rivers to roundabouts, Emil has seen it all. In mid-June, he was also filmed gracefully wading through the Opava River near Ostrava. By early July, he was making surprise cameos in the Zlín region, startling fishermen in Lukov, pacing through industrial zones in Příluky, and even causing a minor commotion at a traffic intersection in Želechovice nad Dřevnicí, where police gently guided him back to the forest.

“We would be happy if he arrived in Šumava and strengthened the micropopulation there,” said Jan Mokrý, a zoologist with the Šumava National Park, during a recent interview with Czech Television. "His presence is a rare opportunity," he added.

Emil’s most recent pitstops include Nivnice on July 22 and 23, where he was seen grazing by the forest road and later photographed by a student. "It was my second time seeing him. But he limps quite noticeably on his right hind leg. Maybe that's why he’s sticking around," she observed in a message to Czech Radio Zlín.

Before that, locals in Korytná spotted him wandering the village and snoozing near a farm. His zigzagging path has made him both elusive yet oddly predictable – like a celebrity on a mysterious countryside tour.

While Emil’s journey has amused the public, conservationists see it as more than a charming sideshow. “These movements reveal the critical importance of landscape permeability,” said František Pelc, director of the Nature and Landscape Conservation Agency. “Highways, towns, and railways are massive barriers for animals like Emil.”

In Šumava, where about 15 moose remain, Emil’s arrival could bring a breath of fresh genetic air. Spokesperson for the Šumava National Park Jan Dvořan told Czech Radio: "It would be good if Emil arrived here, he would bring 'new blood' to the Šumava population, which is isolated. The wolf, the Eurasian lynx, the European beaver, and the peregrine falcon have already returned to Šumava."

Until then, all eyes remain on Emil’s next move. Will he limp all the way to the Bohemian Forest? Or decide Moravia is home? Either way, one thing’s clear: Czechia has a new national darling, one hoofstep at a time.