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Austria Readies Elk Capture Plan as 'Emil' Reaches Haag

Officials plan a sedation capture at the Upper Austria line to steer him into the Bohemian Forest for safer habitat.

Overview

  • Emil was spotted in the town of Haag in Lower Austria, approached the local Tierpark by about a kilometre, then continued westward.
  • He crossed the busy Westbahn railway via a tunnel, avoiding a repeat of an earlier disruption he caused near St. Pölten.
  • Upper Austria has formed a multi-agency task force called SOKO Elch that is prepared to sedate the roughly 600‑kilogram bull if he crosses the state border.
  • The plan is to transport him to the Bohemian Forest near the Czech frontier, where he could orient toward Šumava or the Bavarian Forest national parks.
  • Animal-welfare groups have launched a petition and warned of legal action, arguing sedation is unlawful without an immediate danger to people.