Ilyusha, a moose calf shot down in the Moscow region, could hide pain due to predators

Ilyusha, the moose calf shot down in the Moscow region, which had been lying on the ground for two days in an immobile state, could intentionally hide the pain in order to remain unnoticed by predators. Andrey Podluzhnov, a zoologist, veterinarian, and animal breeder, told Izvestia about this on May 20.

According to the expert, wild animals hide their injuries to the last, even if it is a rupture of internal organs and severe bleeding.

"The dog would have been whining, crying, and everyone would have heard. The fact is that a wild animal, if it is shown that it is sick and weak, who will pay attention to it first? Predators," he explained.

Podluzhnov added that the moose is a long—legged animal, so the impact of the car most often falls on the limbs.

"This is a fairly weak point in the body of ungulates in general, so any lateral impact leads to a leg fracture," the expert noted.

On May 19, it was reported that a moose had been shot down in the Istra district of the Moscow Region. The animal lay for two days near the village of Pavlovskaya Sloboda in an immobile state.

Later that day, the calf was examined and transported to the Losiny Ostrov National Park for assistance. The prosecutor's office of the Moscow region reported that the work of the services after not providing assistance to the injured animal will be checked.

On May 20, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Moscow region reported that veterinarians were preparing Ilusha's calf for surgery. His condition is assessed as stable and satisfactory.