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Video: Moose dives off cliff, swims away like nothing happened.

Aug 13, 2019 05:10PM ● By Editor

By Sage Anderson of mashable.com - August 13, 2019


It's always whiplash-inducing when you see an animal in a place it's not meant to be. Cats on roofs, bears in cars, etc. But I guarantee you that one of the most shocking is watching this moose's daring leap.  

The video shows a young moose scaling some rocks on the cliffs of Nippers Harbour in Newfoundland, Canada. After tentatively toeing around the edge of the rocks, it takes the plunge and dives into the water. The person behind the camera can be heard yelling "Oh no! Is she gone?" 

Lo and behold, the moose emerges, and swims away as if nothing happened. 

DrRonald Moen, a professor of biology at the University of Minnesota, researcher in mammalian ecology, and recipient of the 2016 Distinguished Moose Biologist Award confirmed that our daredevil friend here was not in serious danger. 

"The moose probably walked down the cliff-side but could not get back up," Moen said. "Possibly it was foraging although there didn't look to be much food present. Moose are excellent swimmers, and given how calm the water was it could have found an access point to get back on land."

So look before you leap, especially if you're a moose. 


Watch the cliff diving moose video here

Boreal Ship Spotter - larger view here