The guy mentioned in the article has spent 30 years looking for signs of a moose. The closest was some hair in 2002 (confirmed to be moose hair, but that moose hair found it's way to NZ is not evidence enough for me - plus if there was a moose it probably died of old age by now).

Given antlers were found 50 years+ ago and not a single further antler has been found - despite moose generally shedding antlers annually, well I guess I just find it hard to believe.

The fact that two separate groups of tourists said they saw a moose in the last month or so, and neither took a photo (or even tried to take a photo), that doesn't give me any confidence. If I saw a hippo in the Waikato I'd take a photo.

Call me a sceptic but after the extent of the searching that has been done to date, I'm going to need a picture.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm very much on the same page, pics or it didn't happen. If there really was a moose population, there would be prints, poo, antlers, or some other evidence.

Instead, we have a number of sightings, almost always by people from areas where moose live, but no photos.

And I believe the fact it always seems to be Americans or Canadians is significant, perhaps they're more likely to think moose when they see a shape, rather than a NZer, who would assume it was a deer?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Either they habitually hallucinate moose (mooses? meece?) or else some wag likes to get out there and wave antlers at tourists.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I suspect they're just seeing big bull deer or a Wapiti.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Good point. Living where I do, I keep forgetting there's anything bigger than a pig or a goat out there.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago

article mentions a moose

no pictures of alleged 'moose'

lame.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

long time New Zealand moose researcher

I bet this man’s skills are hotly demanded

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

@RecallMadness @thevoyagekayaking "...first time caller"

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

I think I've heard about this dude, he's basically a benign version of a conspiracy theorist.