Fiordland moose
Moose released in Fiordland in 1910 were thought to have died out, but in 2002 researcher Ken Tustin collected hair that DNA testing linked to moose.
2002 CE · -45.55, 167.20 · status: disputed
The account
Ten moose from Canada were released at Supper Cove, Dusky Sound, in 1910; the last confirmed animal was shot in 1952. A blurry photograph of 1995 and later hair samples kept the 'phantom moose' alive.
The sceptical view
No moose has been seen clearly or photographed well in decades; if any survive, the population must be tiny.
The researched reading
Moose really lived in Fiordland, and DNA hints that a few may have lingered. No clear sighting in decades suggests that any survivors were few and may now be gone.
| Explanation | Weight | Why |
|---|---|---|
| An unknown or out-of-place animal | 35% | Moose were really released in 1910 and one was shot in 1952. Hair from Fiordland tested as moose DNA in 2002 and later, so a tiny relict herd in remote country is plausible. |
| Something known, misidentified | 35% | Red deer and wapiti are abundant in Fiordland, and brief or blurry sightings and browse signs are easily over-read. Hair samples can be contaminated or old. |
| Perception, memory or mind | 12% | Years of searching by a dedicated researcher raise the risk of seeing what is hoped for. |
| A cultural story | 12% | The “phantom moose” is a cherished New Zealand legend. |
| A hoax or fabrication | 5% | No evidence of fakery, but planted hair cannot be excluded. |
| Genuinely anomalous | 1% | A known animal, so nothing anomalous. |
Official position: The Department of Conservation has not confirmed living moose; the last confirmed animal was shot in 1952.