They are sexually dimorphic, with females being smaller than the males. Elands are herbivorous. If they need to conserve water they may increase their body temperature. Bullets, however, can and do fail in practice. [25] Grasses the eland eats include Setaria and Themeda and fruits from Securinega and Strychnos. Elands produce antibodies for Brucella bacteria, but none for Mycobacterium paratuberculosis or various types of pneumonia like contagious bovine pneumonia and contagious caprine pneumonia, normally infectious in cows or antelopes.[3]. [7] It has a Baltic source similar to the Lithuanian élnis, which means "deer". https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22055A50196938.en. ), Firearm Dealers / Gun Shops / Firearms Training Facilities, What weight projectile for Eland from Howa 30.06. As males age, their coat becomes more grey. They also test the female's urine. The females allow the dominant female to mate with them. In Dutch the animal is called "Eland antelope" to distinguish it from the moose, which is found in the northern boreal forests. The study conformed the chromosome numbers of both the eland and the kudu and the strangeness of their attached Y chromosomes. Autotrophic Organism. However, they are still pretty hefty, weighing up to 600 kg. It is believed that today their extinction from these parts could be due to colonization. I've seen too many good hits with 300-grain bullets carrying in excess of 3,000 f-p energy fail to knock … Well adapted for dry hot climate. The cow, which is usually much smaller, weighs around 1100lbs and measures around 4,8 feet. Males mature at seven years and continue to add bulk with age, whereas females are mature by four years and remain much slimmer, with a shoulder height of 120–150 cm (47–59 inches) and a weight of 317–470 kg (699–1,036 pounds). Herds of eland will often associate with zebras, roan antelopes and oryxes. Common elands have also been widely domesticated in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Kenya, as well as in Russia and Ukraine.[32][33]. The first members of the tribe Tragelaphini appear 6 million years in the past during the late Miocene. Habits: Live in groups of up to 1000. Tragelaphus oryx (errata version published in 2017). This results in fights between males, in which their hard horns are used. In recent years the eland has become popular as a source of meat and milk. Large antelope can survive on lower quality food in times of little rain. [3] The common eland's life expectancy is generally between 15 and 20 years; in captivity some live up to 25 years. It is native to Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe but is no longer present in Burundi. After about 24 hours of the delivery, the mother and calf join this group. Both species have a pair of tightly spiraled horns coming out of the head. [30] As they are docile and inactive most of the time, they can easily be killed. [8][9] When Dutch settlers came to the Cape Province, they named it after the large, herbivorous moose. The population is, however, gradually decreasing due to habitat loss, caused by expanding human settlements and poaching for its superior meat. It does not need to be stored in a fridge and can last for up to eight months when properly prepared instead of a few days. [15] The sound carries some distance from a herd, and may be a form of communication. A young eland bull encountered while hunting in Namibia. That enormous male had only one horn, the other having been broken maybe in a fight with another male opponent. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22055A115166135. Eland are considered part of the spiral horn family of antelope together with. The tail is 50–90 cm (20–35 in) long. The cow-like eland is the world’s largest antelope. The eland is the largest of a number of related species, characterized by spiralling horns and vertical cream-coloured stripes along the flanks and haunches. The common eland (Taurotragus oryx), also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. Photo: Johan Van der Vyver, Cape eland old bull . The pleasant-tasting milk has a butterfat content of 11-17% and can be stored for up to eight months if properly prepared, versus several days for cow milk. Eland are predominantly a reddish fawn to tawny colour, but usually darken with age. Weaning occurs at six months old. They eat in the morning and evening, rest in shade when hot and remain in sunlight when cold. During estrus, mainly in the rainy season, groups tend to form more regularly. A fully grown bull may weigh 2,000 lb (900 kg). [10] Females weigh 300–600 kg (660–1,320 lb), measure 200–280 cm (79–110 in) from the snout to the base of the tail and stand 125–153 cm (49–60 in) at the shoulder. [3], The common eland is the slowest antelope, with a peak speed of 40 kilometres (25 mi) per hour that tires them quickly. They are spiral-horned antelopes. [21], They live on home ranges that can be 200–400 km2 for females and juveniles and 50 km2 for males. [27], Common elands are resistant to trypanosomiasis, a protozoan infection that has the tsetse fly as a vector, but not to the Rhipicephalus-transmitted disease theileriosis. It measures 135 4/8″. On some occasions males will engage in fights using their horns. Giant Eland can move quickly, running at over 43 mph (70 km/h), and despite their size are exceptional jumpers, easily clearing heights of 1.5 m (4.9 ft). The flehmen response also occurs, primarily in males in response to contact with female urine or genitals. It means that your Eland bull must be over 1000 kg (1 ton) on the hoof. [3], Both sexes have horns with a steady spiral ridge (resembling that of the bushbuck). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22055A115166135. Common elands are herbivores that browse during drier winter months but have also adapted to grazing during the rainy season when grasses are more common. Several years ago, I took one such specimen largely exceeding that weight. 73 Year Old Alaskan Scores a 73 inch Giant – A Record Breaking Alaskan Bull Moose. IUCN Conservation Status: Cape eland: Lower Risk, Least concern (LR/lc). Eland hunting will result in a larger trophy than both kudu and roan antelope. The ox-like males are twice the weight of females, sometimes reaching buffalo size. There are no doubt bulls that will reach, or exceed, 500 kg but those are very much exceptions to the rule. Mainly browsers but do occasionally graze, they love wild fruit. [6], The name 'eland' is Dutch for "elk" or "moose". 2) If you want a trophy and you have the money and you have not shot one before then go for the 400 kg bull but don't expect soft succulent meat. [12], Their coat differs geographically, with elands in northern part of their range having distinctive markings (torso stripes, markings on legs, dark garters and a spinal crest) that are absent in the south. [3] If eland bulls find any of their predators nearby, they will bark and attempt to attract the attention of others by trotting back and forth until the entire herd is conscious of the danger. Males also have dense fur on their foreheads and a large dewlap on their throats. Actually, the the Eland from the Drakensberg is the same subspecies. Adult males can easily weigh up to one ton. Juveniles and mothers tend to form larger herds, while males may separate into smaller groups or wander individually. However, they can maintain a 22 kilometres (14 mi) per hour trot indefinitely. However, it has the endurance to maintain a trot indefinitely and can jump a 1.5 meter (4 feet) fence from a standstill. The similarity of dates obtained from more studies indicates a significant event c. 200 ka, which had brought a great change in the genetic history of the species.[19]. Under the throat is a dewlap (a fold of skin). For the most part they browse (eat leaves) but when it is dry in winter they mat graze (eat grasses). INTERESTING HUNTING NOTES: The largest of the Spiral Horned family in South Africa. Tragos is Greek for a male goat, and refers to the tuft of hair that grows in the eland's ear which resembles a goat's beard.. Twycross Zoo Rhino Has a Party for His Third Birthday, Watch as Toronto Zoo Zebra Foal is Born on Video, Mini Monkeys are the Latest Arrivals at Chester Zoo. The common eland prefers habitats with a wide variety of flowering plants such as savannah, woodlands, and open and montane grasslands; it avoids dense forests. Reports state that repeated matings of male elands with domestic (Bos primigenius) and zebu cows (Bos indicus) have also produced sterile hybrids. [23] The dominant male can mate with more than one female. Females are a tad smaller, at a maximum of 280 cm in length and 1.53 meters tall. [27], Males, females and juveniles each form separate social groups. Eland hunting is surprisingly difficult considering that they are the largest species of plains game in Africa. Apart from the rough black mane their coat is smooth. They make their home in semi-arid areas with many shrub-like bushes mostly but can also be found in grasslands, woodlands, sub desert, bush and mountaintops. Trophy Eland Bull: $7,950; Meat Eland (Cow or Young Bull): $3,500; Trophy Fee is in addition to $250 per day which covers All-Inclusive Hunt Package. [16] Common elands are sometimes considered part of the genus Tragelaphus on the basis of molecular phylogenetics, but are usually categorized as Taurotragus, along with the giant eland (T. At the shoulder they stand 150-183cm (59-72in) tall). [3][20][23] The eland can conserve water by increasing its body temperature. Eland Facts: The Common Eland, or Southern Eland, (Taurotragus oryx) is a savannah and plains antelope found in East and Southern Africa. Nine months after mating the female gives birth to a single calf. Females will urinate to indicate fertility during the appropriate phase of their estrous cycle, as well as to indicate their lack of fertility when harassed by males. Males will test the females urine and chase them to see if they are in season. The eland is featured on the coat of arms of Grootfontein in Namibia. Sexual maturity is achieved between one and three years of age while males are not mature until four to five years of age. derbianus). [3], Eland herds are accompanied by a loud clicking sound that has been subject to considerable speculation. [20] They travel the grassy plains in wet periods and prefer bushy areas in dry periods. His buddies were seen running further away. At the shoulder they stand 125-153cm (49-60in) tall. Both the Bulls and the cows have horns, but the bulls’ horns are more robust and thicker. An adult male is around 1.6 metres (5') tall at the shoulder (females are 20 centimetres (8") shorter) and can weigh up to 942 kg (2,077 lb) with an average of 500–600 kg (1,100–1,300 lb), 340–445 kg (750–981 lb) for females). A large old bull can weigh in at over 900Kg (2000lbs). He can weigh in at over 2 000 pounds. Both sexes have a signature square profile – accentuated in the bull by a large dewlap – and straight horns that are longer and narrower in the female. They need less water than normal cows and the milk produced is richer in milkfat. [31] The species became extinct in Swaziland[2] and Zimbabwe,[23] but has been reintroduced. [5] Oryx is Latin and Greek (generally orygos) for pickaxe, referring to the pointed horns of North African antelopes like the common eland and scimitar-horned oryx. Most of their water is obtained from their food, though they will drink water when available. [20] Elands do, however, avoid forests, swamps and deserts. [10], International Union for Conservation of Nature, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, 10.1644/1545-1410(2002)689<0001:TO>2.0.CO;2, "Husbandry Guidelines For The Common Eland", "A long‐standing Pleistocene refugium in southern Africa and a mosaic of refugia in East Africa: insights from mtDNA and the common eland antelope", "The Living Africa: Wildlife – Bovid Family – Common Eland", "Taurotragus oryx (Common eland)-Ontogeny and Reproduction", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Common_eland&oldid=985311716, Mammals of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Distribution of the common eland over the, This page was last edited on 25 October 2020, at 06:44. Description: The Largest of the African antelope, an adult eland bull stands about 67 inches (1.7 metres) at the shoulder and can weigh up to 1,980 pounds (900 kilograms). On top of a males head their fur is quite dense. The male groups are the smallest; the members stay together and search for food or water sources. This has led to some Southern African farmers switching from cattle to eland. [20] Females have a gestation period of 9 months, and give birth to only one calf each time. Elands feed during the night in hot weather and sleep for long periods during the day. Eland Bull (Taurotragus oryx) The Common or Southern Eland is a large spiral horned Antelope. It generally occurs when the elands all gather on the lush green plains where they can feed on the plentiful grasses. Bulls may also have a series of vertical white stripes on their sides (mainly in parts of the Karoo in South Africa). They roam in herds of up to 500. Eland can be found in many National Parks and reserves today, including Nairobi National Park and Tsavo East National Park, Tsavo West National Park, Masai Mara National Reserve, (Kenya); Serengeti National Park, Ruaha National Park and Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, (Tanzania); Kagera National Park (Rwanda); Nyika National Park (Malawi); Lake Mburo National Park (Uganda); Kidepo Valley National Park (Uganda); Luangwa Valley and Kafue National Park (Zambia); Hwange National Park, Matobo National Park, Tuli Safari Area and Chimanimani Eland Sanctuary (Zimbabwe); Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Giant's Castle and Suikerbosrand NR (South Africa). A male can mate with a number of females. A MATURE ELAND BULL HAS AN AVERAGE: SHOULDER HEIGHT: 67 INCHES WEIGHS: 1500 - 2000 POUNDS HORN LENGTH: 33 INCHES SCI MINIMUM SCORE 77 INCHES (Length of both horns + circumference of bases). The species extends north into Ethiopia and most arid zones of South Sudan, west into eastern Angola and Namibia, and south to South Africa. After this they will go off and join a male or female herd. The majority of their diet is made up of high protein succulent leaves from flowering plants. The scientific name taurotragus oryx comes from Greek. Weights range from 300-600kg (660-1,320lb) for females. [20] Mating begins when elands gather to feed on lush green plains with plentiful grass, and some males and females start mating with each other in separate pairs. . Most trophy bulls dress out between 370 and 400 kg. It belongs to the order Artiodactyla, family Bovidae and subfamily Bovinae. If you pick up a fresh bull spoor in the early morning, your chances of catching up to him in the late afternoon are quite good. Eland Trophy Fees. 245 108. It means that your Eland bull must be over 1000 kg (1 ton) on the hoof. We’ll blame it on the post-baby weight. [3] In southern Africa common elands will often associate with herds of zebras, roan antelopes and oryxes. Shot was about 20 yds, broadside, and entered tight behind the right leg that was a bit forward. Downloaded on 14 May 2020. [3] As they quickly adjust to the surroundings due to seasonal changes and other causes, they also change their feeding habits. They also communicate through the smells in their urine. Usually, a female chooses the most dominant and fit male to mate with. It is more common for juveniles to be preyed upon. [3] They require a high-protein diet of succulent leaves from flowering plants but will consume lower quality plant material if available including forbs, trees, shrubs, grasses, seeds and tubers. It uses loud barks, visual and postural movements and the flehmen response to communicate and warn others of danger. The Livingstone Eland Bull, Cape Eland's Northern counterpart, has a similar weight of 650-910 kg: Source: Bovids of the World: Antelopes, Gazelles, Cattle, Goats, Sheep, and … Juvenile elands are more vulnerable than adults to their predators.[3]. The tail adds 50-90cm (20-35in) to the length of both males and females. Females are sometimes less than half the weight … Optimum Game Weight formula doesn't recommend 30-06 for game as heavy as this eland bull, but it worked anyway. The average male eland weight is between a whopping 400 and 940 kilograms.. Females have a tan coat, while the coats of males are darker, with a bluish-grey tinge. Females have a complex linear hierarchy. When eland bulls walk, their fore legs make a distinct clicking sound. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22055A50196938.en. [3], The Bovidae family ancestors of the common eland evolved approximately 20 million years ago in Africa; fossils are found throughout Africa and France but the best record appears in sub-Saharan Africa. [7], Common elands are spiral-horned antelopes. Sometimes she runs away from males trying to mate, causing more attraction. However, there is a low density of elands in Africa due to poaching and human settlement. [3], In 2010, a genetic study was made basing on the evolutionary history of common elands. Herds of eland will often associate with. [1] Most of these populations appear to be stable. Common elands are also pictured as supporters in the coat of arms of Grootfontein, Namibia. They are sexually dimorphic, with females being smaller than the males. Mature bulls become more and more blue-gray, especially on the neck. They will still stay within their calf group for up to two years. The common eland is the world’s second largest antelope species. The Cape eland is southern Africa's largest antelope. Eland are also hosts to several kinds of ticks. The heaviest eland bull I've ever weighed dressed out at 440kg. Common elands live on the open plains of southern Africa and along the foothills of the great southern African plateau. Down their sides are vertical white stripes. This is supplemented with forbs, trees, shrubs, grasses, tubers and seeds. Also plan for several R000's for having the trophy done at a good Taxidermy. A ... (Spanish) Fighting Bull Giant Eland v Iberian (Spanish) Fighting Bull. It is more common for juveniles to be preyed upon. Common elands have a mild temperament and have been successfully domesticated for meat and milk production in South Africa and Russia. The common eland is crepuscular. The IUCN states that about half of the estimated total population lives in protected areas and 30% on private land. A full-grown eland bull can weigh around 2000lbs and measure almost 6ft in shoulder height. Etymology. In the morning and evening they eat. Join Our Mailing List to Get Daily Animal Profiles & Animal News Delivered to Your Mailbox. Both bulls and cows sport a set of horns that twist from the base to the tip. An eland hunt in South Afric a with African Sky Hunting. The common eland is sometimes farmed and hunted for its meat, and in some cases can be better used than cattle because it is more suited to African climates. Their size makes the eland the slowest antelope, with a max speed of 40 mph; despite their “lack” of speed they can actually jump 9ft. [13] Apart from a rough mane, the coat is smooth. They are smart, shifty and elusive! Males use their horns during rutting season to wrestle and butt heads with rivals, while females use their horns to protect their young from predators. It is believed that the weight of the animal causes the two halves of its hooves to splay apart, and the clicking is the result of the hoof snapping together when the animal raises its leg. Predators of the eland include lions, wild dogs, cheetahs and spotted hyenas. Females weigh 660–1,320 pounds and stand 49–60 inches at the shoulder. An average weight for a male eland would be somewhere between 400 and 492kg (882-2,077lb). Weights range from 300-600kg (660-1,320lb) for females. [4] Tragos is Greek for a male goat, referring to the tuft of hair that grows in the eland's ear and its resemblance to a goat's beard. The scientific name of the giant eland is Taurotragus derbianus, derived from three words: tauros, tragos, and derbianus.Tauros is Greek for a bull or bullock. It is also the largest antelope with spiraled horns. Color is grayish-brown with older males developing a bluish-gray around the neck. It’s been theorized that this sound is made by a tendon in the leg sliding over a leg bone and making a sound like a guitar string being plucked. He and his two friends ran about 40 yards and disappeared behind some brush. They are commonly found in herds of up to 500, with individual members remaining in the herd anywhere from several hours to several months. The conclusions strongly supported the presence of a longer-standing population in the south and a mosaic of Pleistocene refugia in the east.