The ‘Great Moose Migration' Livestream Captivates Sweden
In fact, 'The Great Moose Migration,' an annual Swedish livestream that began on Tuesday, may soon dethrone the opening credits of 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' as humanity's greatest artistic tribute to the Swedish moose.
Perhaps the power transfer is already over.
'I didn't really think it would hit,' said Arne Nilsson, 54, speaking of when it started in 2019. 'I thought it would be ridiculous,' he added.
Mr. Nilsson, who grew up in the Swedish woods, was wrong. Now, he will devote six hours a day to moderating a Facebook group of over 77,000 fans, many of whom will spend the next three weeks watching moose on SVT, Sweden's national broadcaster. (The group's name is self-explanatory: 'Vi som gillar den stora algvandringen pa SVT!' or 'We who like the great moose migration on SVT!')
Unlike many other nature programs, which may have music and narration, the moose march broadcast is raw. It is also live. The only 'edits' are cuts between the 34 cameras along the migration path.
That's the draw, Mr. Nilsson said: The moose do not know they are being watched. They certainly do not know they are being watched by zealots live-blogging their minute-by-minute joy of watching the migration.
'This isn't staged,' he said. 'This isn't cut together. This is reality TV at its finest.'
About 300,000 moose (yes, that's the plural of moose) live in Sweden, said Goran Ericsson, who leads the moose research group at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The 100 or so that may appear on the livestream are traveling on a path their ancestors have followed since the ice age.
Last year, millions of people watched the livestream, said Johan Erhag, the executive producer. And the fans are downright obsessed.
'Some people are fanatics,' said Lasse Nasstrom, 59, a member of the Facebook group, who streams it on one of his three monitors while he works on the others. 'I don't believe some of them sleep during those weeks.'
Some people, like Lillemor Elfgren, start their days by checking for updates. Ms. Elfgren, 43, lives in Vannasby, in northeast Sweden, and gets a notification whenever there's any real action.
'Has anything interesting happened?' she said. 'Is someone about to swim?'
This is hardly the only animal livestream to delight humans. There's 'Planet Earth,' of course, and the Dutch 'fish doorbell,' where fans help the fish migration. Some friends count down the final seconds at the end of the year to the clock on a watering hole in the Namibian desert.
(There's even a cheese cam, for people who want to watch wheels of Cheddar age in real time.)
In Sweden, even when no moose are visible (which happens more often than one might expect from a moose livestream), the woods stun and awe. Rivers flow against snowy banks. Light scythes through sun-dappled groves. Swans glide, white and wild. These are like Tarkovsky vistas, set to the sound of birds and wind.
'I want it to be like a living painting on the wall,' Stefan Edlund, the program's producer, said while sitting next to Dr. Ericsson as a wall of moose feeds blinked on screens behind them.
Mr. Edlund was inspired by similar 'slow television' streams from Norway, a center of the tranquil Nordic style. He said he ignored advice to include flashy graphics or use a human presenter. The purity of the woods was the point.
Their cameras will film the moose, undisturbed, until May 4, when the feed is scheduled to end. That is, of course, if they can locate moose to film.
'It's a bit of a sport to find them,' he said.
So he and his team make it into a game, at least at the command center. They scour the feeds, turning the screens into a 'Where's Waldo' of the Cervidae family. Could that be one? Or that?
They're keeping a tally on a yellow paper, with a moose-to-stone spotting ratio. As of noon on Tuesday, stones were in the lead.
'They are also called 'near-moose experiences,'' quipped Dr. Ericsson, the moose expert.
'It's a bit of fun,' Mr. Edlund added, shrugging as he looked at the screens. 'Keeps you awake.'
For fans, the feed is both an oasis and a mirage. They sit gazing at Sweden's forests and rivers, posting their delight online in unison.
Marianne Hauger, 49, turns it on while at home on Trundon, a small island in northeast Sweden.
She loves moose, of course. But the conversation is the real draw. 'When you're in this chat you forget that there are bad things in the world,' she said.
And, she said, there's always a letdown when it ends each year. 'It felt so empty,' she said, adding, 'Thankfully, it's in the middle of May so you have summer to look forward to.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
20 minutes ago
- New York Post
LA junkie charged in murder of ‘American Idol' exec spent six months in jail after attacking his family with knife — and had all charges dropped
The Los Angeles lowlife accused of killing 'American Idol' executive Robin Kaye in cold blood was previously accused of pulling a knife on his stepfather and threatening his own mother and sister — but only spent six months in custody before his charges were dismissed. Raymond Boodarian, 22, threatened his stepfather with a blade in November 2023 in the first in a series of busts in just eight months, according to KABC and court documents. He was arrested in February 2023 for misdemeanor battery and threatening his mother and sister — and then again in June 2024, the network reported. Advertisement 4 Raymond Boodarian, 22, was arrested Tuesday without incident at his Los Angeles home by numerous police officers. TMZ Details of the latter collar weren't clear. Boodarian was released the same day as his November and February arrests, but spent six months in jail for his June arrest — and then all the charges against him were dropped when he was declared mentally incompetent, placed on a conservatorship and let go in December. Advertisement On Tuesday — just seven months later — Boodarian was nabbed in the alleged murder of Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca after breaking into the 70-year-olds' Encino home. It remains unclear exactly why Boodarian's charges were dropped, but California legal experts suggested he may have qualified for California's Mental Health Diversion program — which gives people with verified mental illnesses the opportunity to complete a treatment program in lieu of prison time, and then walk away scot-free without charges, convictions, or any monitoring or probation of any kind. 4 Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca, both 70, were gunned down in their Encino home on Thursday. Facebook And nearly every crime in California is eligible for the program — with only accused murderers and sex offenders not qualifying. Advertisement 'I've gotten mental health diversion for clients for attempted murder at least seven, eight times,' said Kenneth Rosenfeld, whose Rosenfeld Law Firm specializes in mental health and crime. 'I've gotten mental health diversions for a client that shot a police officer, where the person has no criminal record.' The program typically consists of 18 months to two years of rigorous mental health treatment, Rosenfeld explained, but that six-month programs like Boodarian may have been in were not unheard of. 'It gives somebody the opportunity to get medication, to get the mental health illness identified, whichever one it might be,' Rosenfeld said, noting that to be admitted into the program somebody needs to have thoroughly documented and severe mental troubles. Advertisement 4 The couple's $4.5 million home is just 15 minutes from their suspected killer's condo. BACKGRID But once they complete the program and the charges are dropped, the accused are free to return to their communities as if their alleged crimes never happened — without any mandated monitoring from authorities or mental health professionals. 'There's no probation because there's no conviction, the charges are dismissed,' Rosenfeld said. 'So why would somebody like this who had documented mental health issues, why would they be able to get out on the streets and potentially commit an offense like this? It's because the charges that he was facing were not charges that made him ineligible under California law for mental health diversion,' he added. Boodarian's mental health problems were well known at home — neighbors say there were explosive fights at his house, that he would behave erratically around the block and was frequently high on various drugs. 'He would sit in front of my friend's house just staring and smiling. He did that on multiple occasions, sometimes in his own house, just looking out the window and smiling,' one neighbor told The Post, agreeing with others that families on the street were wary and scared of Boodarian. 4 Boodarian's home, where neighbors say he would frequently wander the street frightening them. David Buchan NY Post Boodarian was arrested on murder charges without incident at his home just 15 minutes from Kaye and Deluca's $4.5 million mansion. Advertisement It's alleged that he broke into the home on Thursday and then shot the couple when they walked in on him. Police connected him to the killing using fingerprints from his previous arrests. He was also allegedly seen on security footage at the couple's house. Boodarian was charged with two counts of murder and first-degree residential burglary and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole — or the death penalty. Advertisement 'In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store,' District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. 'This tragic shooting has shaken a valley community and the notion that home should be our safe sanctuary. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends who are grieving this tremendous loss.' Though Boodarian's murder case disqualifies him from California's Mental Health Diversion, legal experts still think he's likely to spend most of his life behind bars if convicted. 'I don't think that they're going to seek the death penalty. But certainly life imprisonment is on the table,' said Danny Rubin of Rubin Law, PC. 'And if he does argue for not guilty by reason of insanity, he may be going to a mental health facility for a very, very long time. 'And that may be even worse than going to jail for life.'
Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
Check Out These 31 Useful Items Under-$25
A fruit and veggie peeler so adorably named the "Catapeeler" because of its cute little caterpillar design. Not only will it perfectly peel all your ingredients for dinner, it'll look so cute in your hands that you might just feel a little worm and fuzzy inside. Mise En Scene Perfect Serum with a blend of argan, olive, jojoba, coconut, and other moisturizing oils to have your hair looking *and* feeling luscious. Reviewers love the scent of this and appreciate how it doesn't leave their hair feeling weighed down. An airtight Deli ProKeeper to keep your deli meats and cheeses fresh because dang, do they rack up your grocery bill. This helps free up space in your fridge, and its grooved bottom prevents any excess juices or moisture from spoiling your food earlier than it should. Utilize a legging organizer since you've got a lot of one thing: leggings, and a little of another: space. This holds up to 10 pairs on a single hanger, and the clips make it super convenient to grab those buttery-soft leggings when you're running out the door. And a hybrid berry basket and colander that makes it easy to clean your favorite fruits, but also store them in a way that keeps them fresher for longer. Plus, it's great for those who like to snack on the go! The iconic Alleyoop Pen Pal, which is basically a cooler makeup version of the classic BIC 4 Color Pen. This has four retractable colors so you can touch up your brows, eyeliner, lips, and highlights. Plus, it takes up little to no room in your makeup/toiletry bag! A super lightweight mesh tote bag so you can hold all your essentials without compromising style. Reviewers love how durable it is and say it's great for a farmers market, a beach day, or to pack on a trip since it packs super easy! The Pink Stuff's new "Sqeezy" sponge set, which includes the viral cleaning paste that one reviewer refers to as "liquid gold" because of how well it works to remove dirt, oil, grime, rust, and stains from pretty much any surface, AND a cute pink sponge to help you get the job done. A set of darling reusable Swedish dishcloths — each one is equivalent to 17 (yes... 17!!!) rolls of paper towels. They're durable enough to tackle tough stains and grime and can even be put in the dishwasher up to 50 times! Kahi Wrinkle Bounce Hydrating Multi-Balm formulated with salmon complex and collagen to help reduce the look of fine lines and boost hydration in your face, lips, and eyes. Plus, this has gone viral on TikTok for helping to achieve that "glass skin" look. A set of delightfully ~~tingly~~ self-heating soothing foot masks made with lavender, Epsom salts, and peppermint so those feetsies of yours can finally get a well-deserved break. Just leave these on for 30 minutes, put your feet up, and enjoy having no more achy feet. A set of family-friendly pastel "unbreakable" deep plates perfect for anyone who needs to be practical, but doesn't want to sacrifice on prettiness. These chic plates are unexpectedly lightweight, making them easier for kids to use, but are still dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe for up to three minutes. A set of toss-and-chop salad tongs for anyone who appreciates a bite of salad that has a little bit of everything in it. These help chop your ingredients and make sure everything gets evenly coated in your favorite dressing. They're even strong enough to work on raw veggies and meats. A bottle of Wet & Forget cleaner destined to turn your shower and tub from grimy and dirty to spiffy and shiny. All you gotta do is spray, let it sit overnight, and rinse! Finally, now you can enjoy your own scrub-a-dub-dub time *without* having to scrub-a-dub-dub the hard-to-reach crevices on your hands and knees. Owala's "SmoothSip" travel tumbler because there are days that you don't need a refrigerator-sized water bottle and just want a more compact way to bring your favorite drink with you. The sliding mechanism ensures it's leakproof, so if you end up tossing it in your bag while running out the door, it'll be no problem. A dishwasher-safe chicken shredder, great for when you don't feel like using two forks to pick away at your chicken breast that just came out of the oven. This has anti-slip strips at the bottom to secure the base, a clear top to see how small you want your shredded pieces, and ergonomic handles for easy movement. When you host your next taco night or pulled pork sandwich cookout, this will leave you feeling like a winner-winner chicken dinner. Some deep-reaching, ergonomic "flossing toothbrushes" because we all brush our teeth every day, but flossing... that's another story. Thankfully, these tiny bristles do the flossing for you, getting all that plaque that builds up in between your teeth! A ChomChom pet hair roller that will basically split your life into two parts: life BEFORE the ChomChom and life AFTER the ChomChom. No need to be wasteful or waste money with those sticky adhesive papers because this roller can be used over and over again. All you need to do is just roll, watch the fur disappear, and easily empty it all out for a super fast cleanup! A bottle-emptying kit so you can get every last drop of that fancy-schmancy shampoo or expensive face serum that you spent a pretty penny on. Just screw this onto your bottle and let gravity do its thing to save you from wasting product and wasting money! A nonstick microwave pasta cooker that gets those noodles ready for eating in just 12–13 minutes! Life is full of pasta-bilities so don't be waiting around for water to boil when you can enjoy a quick and easy meal thanks to this genius thing. A car seat gap filler to prevent your phone or sunglasses from falling into the deep, dark abyss known as the space between your seat and the center console. A purse organizer insert that'll solve your problems of wishing your favorite tote had more pockets (because we all love things with pockets). This will effectively organize your bag so you don't get slowed down by rooting around your purse looking for your keys or your fave lip gloss. A hidden fly trap ready to catch all those little flying buggers that live in your house rent-free (so rude!). No more running around with the fly swatter or making desperate calls to the exterminators. Plus, the sticky cartridges are easily replaceable, so you can avoid touching those nasty bugs. A makeup-correcting stick that comes in real handy when you've gone a little overboard trying to match your left winged eyeliner to your right or for any other makeup mishaps. Plus, it's infused with anti-inflammatory vitamin E! A TubShroom hair-catching drain made from stainless steel, which easily catches hair so you don't have to use one of those weird drain snakes. *This drain is not like a regular drain, it's a cool drain* that catches hair out of sight so you don't have to see a hairy mess block the shower drain or tub. A car seat buckle release tool for when your fingers suddenly aren't strong enough to unbuckle your grumpy little one who just wants to get out of their carseat. It will surely become a staple product that you'll want to attach to your key chain (so you'll always have it on hand and so your kid can't accidentally get a hold of it in the car). I Dew Care's dry shampoo powder if your hair has been looking like it's been a while since wash day. Tap this on to say goodbye to greasy roots and make it look like your hair got a nice lil' refresh. Plus, this is TSA-friendly which makes it great for traveling. A set of mopping "slippers" since you don't want to constantly step on your wet floors with bare feet or have the bottom of your shoes basically ruin the cleaning that you just did. Some reviewers have even used these on their Swiffers since they fit around it perfectly and can act as a reusable pad! A defrosting tray for anyone trying to avoid the disappointment of coming home from a long day after work and realizing you forgot to defrost your chicken or steak for dinner. This speeds up the thawing time and helps prevent you from becoming your mom, who was rightfully annoyed that you didn't take the chicken out of the freezer. A super-soft Makeup Eraser, which lets you go from full beat to au naturel with no makeup remover solution required. Just add water, and your foundation, waterproof mascara, and lipstick will be gone in a flash! Plus, it's reusable and machine washable, making it an eco-friendly alternative to disposable makeup remover wipes. A set of cleaning brush attachments you can pop onto a regular drill for some serious scrubbin'. If you've ever broken a cleaning brush scrubbing with too much elbow grease, this is the thing for you. Your back will thank you, your bathroom surfaces will sparkle, and you will be so thankful that cleaning took half the time it usually does.
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Shedeur Sanders hosts event for Cleveland community after fire tragedy
Despite an up-and-down offseason that included a draft slide, a quarterback competition, speeding tickets and an ESPYS roast, Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has not lost sight of one of the goals he set when he got drafted. That promise was to help out the local Cleveland community, and Sanders has fulfilled it more than once. After dozens of families were displaced from their Cleveland-area apartments following an explosion, Sanders helped host the Garden Valley Fun Fest. The event brought free food trucks, haircuts, and activities to a community that desperately needed a distraction. Sanders heard the tragic news on social media and knew he wanted to help. "When everything transpires, i was out of town, so I was like, 'Nah, the first thing I do when I get back is definitely come to the commnity," Sanders told ABC News 5 Cleveland. "This is just off an Instagram DM...I was like 'Dang that's crazy,' and I just wanted a day for eveybody to get out here and have some type of enjoyment, excitement, bring the family atmosphere back." Sanders could have donated to a fund like many athletes of his stature would do, but instead, it was important to him to show up for the community and go above and beyond to show his support. The former Colorado quarterback continues to show his character since becoming a Brown. In the spring, just a few weeks after he was drafted, Sanders visited Cleveland High School and spoke to students about being a professional athlete. He also hosted a workout for high school football players that made the day for several kids. For Colorado fans who have seen Sanders in and around the Boulder community over the past two years, this should come as no surprise; however, Cleveland fans are now experiencing firsthand the level of community engagement Sanders is involved in. Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram. Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.
