Filmmaker's Decade-Long Quest to Document Moose Comeback in Czech Republic

In 2003, Hana Novakova, a Czech documentarian and ethnozoologist, first heard the remarkable story of the spontaneous return of the moose population to the Czech Republic after 500 years of extinction. Fascinated by this event, Novakova has spent over a decade on a quest to document the moose's comeback.

Novakova's journey has not been an easy one. She faced difficulties in securing funding for her project, and the COVID-19 pandemic and diplomatic tensions between the Czech Republic and Russia in 2021 further complicated her plans to film the moose in their natural habitats. Undeterred, Novakova traveled to a Russian nature preserve in the Kostroma region, where she was able to witness the majestic ungulates roaming freely for the first time.

Novakova's quest took her even further, to Nova Scotia, Canada, where she collaborated with the indigenous Mi'kmaq people to gain access to local moose habitats. The Mi'kmaq welcomed Novakova with a ritual cleansing ceremony, and she was told that "special animal omens" had been witnessed for her project, indicating the moose community's approval.

After years of dedication and perseverance, Novakova's documentary, "Amoosed," is set to premiere at the Ji.hlava doc fest's Czech Joy section. Her film not only captures the remarkable return of the moose to the Czech Republic but also explores the deeper questions about our relationship with the natural world and the lessons we can learn from these enigmatic animals.