Ferdinand the Elk Gets a Second Chance

A white elk in Sweden who likes the suburban life a little too much has won the fight of his life. 

At least for now. The trouble began when the rare animal rattled nerves in western Värmland when it charged a woman walking her dogs, the Local reports. When police threatened to shoot it, people aiming to protect the elk, dubbed Ferdinand, flocked to two online petitions that quickly logged more than 30,000 signatures. 

Those efforts were no doubt helped by a video that went viral of Ferdinand enjoying a late summer soak in a stream. Arvika police chief Christer Lööf last week told the magazine Svensk Jakt per Radio Sweden that hunters would first be dispatched to shoo the elk away from a residential neighborhood he seems to favor. But if those efforts failed, the chief said the only choice would be a death sentence for Ferdinand.

Read the full story on Newser.com

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