When Swedish politician Hans Nilsson captured video of a large white moose walking through the country's Värmland district, he knew he had something extraordinary on his hands. But just how famous his video footage would get, Nilsson couldn't predict.

In addition to National Geographic's August article explaining the genetic condition that likely made the moose white, Nilsson's video footage was covered extensively around the world.

Two months after news about the white moose broke, the animal was marked for death. Police decided to allow hunters to shoot it. But on Tuesday, the police walked back their decision and decided to spare the moose.

That decision was likely influenced, at least in part, by a petition created by Nilsson