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5 Fascinating Facts About the Eland
5 Fascinating Facts About the Eland
The largest antelope in the world is the eland, which resembles an ox. It is a member of the “spiral-horned” subfamily, which also includes kudu and bushbuck.
Two species are present. The first is the enormous eland, or Taurotragus derbianus, which is found in central and western Africa and is marginally larger than the other. The second is the eland (Taurotragus oryx), which is more frequent and familiar. It can be found from Kenya to Botswana in east and southern Africa. Both species’ bulls may weigh up to 900 kg and have a shoulder height of 1.7 meters. Women weigh around half as much as men.
Eland live on open terrain, ranging from semi-deserts to alpine meadows. A safari sighting is usually a unique experience because they are timid and quickly flee from any disturbance.
Five Interesting Facts Regarding the Eland
Despite their enormous size, they are excellent jumpers and can easily clear a two-meter barrier.
As they get closer, you may hear a clear clicking sound if you listen carefully. Their hooves, which splay apart and click back together under the weight of the animal, are assumed to be the source of this.
For the ancient hunter-gatherers of southern Africa, it served as both sustenance and a source of spiritual inspiration.
Additionally, it is frequently featured in cave and rock art around the area. Place names like Elandsfontein and surnames like Mpofu (which means “eland” in Zulu) indicate how important this antelope was to the region’s culture in the past.
In remembrance of Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby, the enormous eland is also known as “Lord Derby’s eland.” In England, it was initially seen from 1835 to 1851. Joseph Burke, a botanist, was dispatched to South Africa at that time by Lord Derby to gather creatures for his menagerie and museum.
The common eland is easier to domesticate and more suited to the African habitat than cattle. It has been cultivated in Russia and South Africa for its milk and meat. A female’s daily milk production can reach up to 7 kg, and it contains more fat than cow’s milk.