ELAND



How to Recognize
Africa’s largest and most powerful antelope, the eland is a massive animal. They are common to see but tend to shy away. Both sexes have horns which spiral at the base and sweep straight back. The male has a distinctive hairy tuft on the head and stouter horns than the female. They are built for neither speed nor endurance.

Habitat
Highly adaptable. They can be found in semi-desert to mountains but prefer the scrubby plains.

Behavior
Nocturnal and diurnal. They usually live in non-territorial herds of around six to twelve, normally comprising of several females and one male. These females establish a hierarchy and calves are vulnerable to male aggression; this is why both sexes have horns. Large temporary herds (up to 1000) sometime form at localized “flushes” of new grass growth.

Breeding
Large males do most of the mating, their dominance enforced by side-on displays which enhance their markings. Bucks experience surges of testosterone that lead to aggressive phases, known in Swahili as “ukali.” Ukali may be a cyclical phenomenon, which encourages other males to disperse for their own safety (lethal clashes sometimes occur when two bucks are ukali).

Feeding
They feed on grass and tree foliage. They chew their cud.

Enemies
Lions and hyenas.


TOP OF PAGE

Copyright © 2002, Dawn M. Dalton.
All rights reserved.