The rash commuter chasing runaway trains turned out to be a rather large moose or elk. The animal was first seen in Grīziņkalna park, later an eyewitness filmed it near a DIY store (receipts were not provided).
Sociālajos tīklos šorīt parādījās ziņas par to, ka galvaspilsētas centrā manīts alnis. Gandrīz katru rudeni pilsētā ieklīst kāds liels meža dzīvnieks, tomēr parasti tie manīti nomaļākās apkaimēs. Jāpiebilst, ka septembris un oktobris ir aļņu riesta laiks. pic.twitter.com/uGOhoVV3np
— LTV Ziņu dienests (@ltvzinas) October 20, 2020
Next, Latvian Railways (Latvijas Dzelzceļš) cameras caught the large mammal running along train tracks and crossing the railway bridge, temporarily halting all train traffic.
.@VAS_LDz izplatījis video, kurā redzams aļņa skrējiens cauri Rīgas Centrālajai dzelzceļa stacijai un Daugavas šķērsošana, dodoties pāri dzelzceļa tiltam. pic.twitter.com/A9mmVMtAu7
— LTV Ziņu dienests (@ltvzinas) October 20, 2020
It seems that the moose did not manage to catch his train wherever he intended to go and decided to take an afternoon dip in the River Daugava instead. Latvian Television's cameras caught him enjoying the swim and later returning to Zaķusala island, which coincidentally also happens to be where LSM is based. If he is after a job we would gladly publish a regular column in order to secure a more sizeable woodland mammal readership than we currently enjoy.
Īsi pēc plkst. 14.00 mūsu tiešsaistes kameras fiksējušas aļņa peldi Daugavā un atgriešanos Zaķusalā. Mūsu kolēģi stāsta, ka sākotnēji dzīvnieks peldējis Lucavsalas virzienā, bet pusceļā izdomājis atgriezties Zaķusalā. pic.twitter.com/iy9oa919lY
— LTV Ziņu dienests (@ltvzinas) October 20, 2020
The moose's metropolitan exploits were met with great enthusiasm on social media with many praising the beast's way of providing an interesting and entertaining diversion during these troubled times. There was a even a call to nominate the moose as person of the year.