Moose

As the largest deer species, elk are more closely related to roe deer than to red deer. Moose do not live in packs, but rather are solitary animals. During the ice ages, they colonised the high moors and tundras of the Alps and can, therefore, be seen in the Alpenzoo, just like the bison. Today, the elk is no longer an Alpine animal. Their long legs and large hooves make it easier to move around in swamps and deep snow. Moose prefer to eat foliage and coniferous branches, which they grasp with their enlarged upper lip (“muzzle”) as if with a gripping hand. The first moose came to the Alpenzoo as a gift from the Swedish royal family. They defend themselves against the main enemy, the wolf, with powerful, lightning-fast hoof kicks from their front and hind legs. Moose are, therefore, also dangerous to humans. Animal keepers may only enter the enclosure for cleaning when the animals are in the barn. Moose are tricky to feed.