Moose (Wild Life by Schleich)

The moose (Alces alces), also known as elk in Europe, is the world’s largest species of deer, and the second largest animal native to North America and Europe. It lives in temperate and subarctic climates around the Northern Hemisphere. Moose are popular as toys, and this makes selecting one for a synoptic collection somewhat of a challenge. As a one figure per species collector, it has taken me some time to decide which moose I wanted to represent the species on my shelf. It’s an important decision to make regarding this symbol of the northern wilderness, and one of my favorite mammals. Thanks to the indispensable Toy Animal Wiki as well as Happy Hen’s recent buyer’s guide on moose figures, I was finally able to make a choice, the 2017 bull moose by Schleich. Let’s take a closer look at it and see if it’s the right moose for you too.

Starting off with the scale of the thing it is important to know just how large moose can get. It’s the sort of animal whose size may shock you if you’re only familiar with the smaller deer species occupying your backyard or neighborhood. There are currently 8 recognized sub-species of extant moose. The smallest is the Ussuri elk (A. a. cameloides), it lives in eastern Russia and reaches a shoulder-height of 5-6’ (1.5-1.8 meters) and a maximum weight of 772 lbs. (350 kg). The largest is the Alaskan moose (A. a. gigas), the largest confirmed individual of which weighed 1,808 lbs. (820 kg) and had a shoulder-height of 7.6’ (2.33 meters). Schleich does not state which sub-species their moose is. It stands about 3.25” (8 cm) tall at the shoulder and measures 5.25” (13 cm) long. Scaled down from a shoulder height of 7’ the figure is 1/25 in scale. Scaled down from a shoulder height of 5’ and it’s 1/18 in scale.

The Schleich moose is presented in a static pose with the head looking gently leftward. Notable features of the head include the large proboscis, unlike anything seen in other deer species. This proboscis gives the moose a keen sense of smell and includes nostrils that can seal shut to aid in underwater foraging. A dewlap is also present on the neck, and the exact function of this feature is unknown, but it may be used for display or to help cool the animal. And then there are of course the antlers. The Schleich moose boasts an impressive rack of palmate (palm-shaped) antlers that are beautifully textured with ridges and grooves. The rack of this particular moose shows that this is a bull in his prime, despite his stoic expression he’s not one to be messed with. The size and detail of this moose’s antlers were a major influence in my decision to get this figure.

The body of the figure is well proportioned. The shoulders have a humped appearance which in life is due to tall neural spines. The neck is short, about the same length as the head, an unusual feature not found in other deer that helps the moose carry its exceptionally large antlers. The tail is appropriately short, and four digits are present on each limb. A sheath is present but there is no scrotum.

Fine details include a complete coat of finely etched hair across the hide that follows the contours of the animal’s body. Some longer hair is sculpted between the antlers and etched into the dewlap. There is some hint of the underlying musculature, particularly in the face and limbs. Bunched up creases of skin are sculpted where the neck is curved.

The figure is chocolate brown dorsally and fades to dark brown on the underside. The top of the head, muzzle, and dewlap are also dark brown. The antlers are tan colored with a bit of a dark brown wash over them. The eyes and nostrils are shiny black, making them appear wet and lifelike.

So, am I satisfied with my moose? Yes, I am. I think it is perhaps the best moose figure currently available in this scale. There are other excellent moose figures out there, all with their own pros and cons, but I see nothing to nitpick about with this one from Schleich. I highly recommend it. The Schleich moose is currently in production and retails for about $9.99.