Common Eland
Encyclopedia
The common eland (Swahili
:Mbunga), also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savanna
h and plain
s antelope
found in East
and Southern Africa
. It is the largest antelope in the African continent. It is native to Botswana
, Burundi
, Congo, Ethiopia
, Kenya
, Lesotho
, Malawi
, Mozambique
, Namibia
, Rwanda
, South Africa
, South Sudan
, Swaziland
, Tanzania
, Uganda
, Zambia
and Zimbabwe
; and is possibly extinct in Angola
.
for elk
. When Dutch
settlers came to the Cape Province
they named the largest wild ruminant
herbivore they met with the name of the huge northern herbivore. In Dutch the animal is called "Elandantelope" to distinguish it from the elk
, which is found in the northern boreal forests
. Its scientific name 'Taurotragus oryx' is made of three Greek words- tauros (a bull), tragos (a he-goat)and orux (a gazelle or antelope).
The elands are spiral-horned antelopes belonging to the Bovid
tribe of Tragelaphini. Females weigh 300 kilogram, measure 200 centimetre from the snout to the base of the tail and stand 125 centimetre at the shoulder. Bulls weigh 450 kilogram, are 240 centimetre from the snout to the base of the tail and stand 150 centimetre at the shoulder. The tail adds a further 50 centimetre. Coats are generally smooth at most of the body with a rough mane. Females have a tan coat, while males have a darker tan coat with a blueish-grey tinge; there may also be a series of white stripes vertically on the sides of bulls (mainly in parts of the Karoo
in South Africa
). But as males age they tend to turn a greyer color . Males have dense fur
on their foreheads and a large dewlap
. Both sexes have horns, about 65 cm (25.6 in) long and with a steady spiral ridge (resembling that of the bushbuck
). The horns of males are shorter (17–26 in) and thicker than the females (20–27 in), which are more pointed. The female's horns are wider set and thinner than the male's. The eland has a mass of about 650 kg (1,433 lb), which is the double of the kudu
. They have a hump at the shoulder and a broad fold of skin hanging from the neck. Elands are said to be one of the slowest antelopes and can even jump over a height of 2.5 meters or above. Elands have an average lifespan of 15–20 years, and some have been known to live for as long as 25 years . When walking, tendon or joints in the eland's foreleg produce a sharp clicking sound, the cause of which has not been widely investigated. The sound carries some distance and is a good indication of an approaching herd. Scientists take it as a form of communication in elands.
Tragelaphus
, but are usually categorized as Taurotragus
, along with the giant eland
. It belongs to the Artiodactyla order, Bovidae family and Bovinae
subfamily. The common eland and giant eland are sometimes added in the Taurotragus
genus also. Three subspecies of common eland have been recognized, although their validity requires investigation.
is approximately 50 individuals. Males use to stay in bushier areas when the females and juveniles
move into the plains to feed on the grasses. As a rule also, the groups of males are smaller than those of females and juveniles
. Some of its main predators include lion, cape hunting dog, leopard and spotted hyena.
, to the east into western Angola
and Namibia
, most arid zones of Sudan
and now even into South Africa
(Lydon). However, there is low density of elands in Africa due to poaching, human settlement etc. There are at least 3 elands/sq mi (1.2/km2). Now it has been reintroduced in Zimbabwe
also. Elands prefer to live in semi-arid areas that contain many shrub-like bushes, and often inhabit grasslands, woodlands, sub-desert, bush and mountaintops up to 15,000 ft (4600 m). Elands do, however, avoid forests, swamps, and deserts.
Elands can be found in many national parks and reserves today, like Nairobi
and Tsavo NP, Masai Mara NR, Kenya
; Serengeti
, Ruaha
, and Tarangire NP
, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
; Kagera NP, Rwanda
; Nyika NP
, Malawi
; Luangwa Valley and Kafue NP
, Zambia
; Hwange
and Matobo NP
, Tuli Safari Area, Zimbabwe
; Kruger NP
, Giant's Castle
, Suikerbosrand NR
, South Africa
.
They live on home ranges that can be 174–422 km2. for females and juveniles
and 21–75 km2. for males, but in the dry season the home ranges reduce to 9–58 km2. and 1–39 km2. for females and males respectively. Sometimes the home ranges of males overlap when the females are in estrus, that is, the phase when the female is sexually receptive. Since food resources are not scarce and females roam frequently, males needn't have a territory
of their own.
, elands usually eat grass
, branch
es and leaves
. They are diurnal and nocturnal but tend to be inactive during the heat of day. The common eland has an unusual social life, leaving or joining herds as necessary without forming close ties. The size and power of the bull eland generally (but not always) discourages predators, but females are thought to be more vulnerable to attack. The common eland would walk long distances for water resources if unavailable in its surrounding. They switch to grazing in the early rainy season. According to a study, grasses made up over 45% of the eland's diet in December 1988 when it was only 6.3% the month before. Many experiments showed that eland are able to readily adapt to changes in seasonal patterns. Yet another observation made in 1985 till 1986 showed that eland were one of the few antelopes who did not regularly use a newly flooded plain where there was an abundance of grasses, rather they preferred to stay in to bushier areas that were more suitable to browsers and only seemed to use the flood plain for shade and water. As they quickly adjust to the surroundings due to seasonal changes and other causes, they also change their feeding habits. They prefer eating vegetation like cross-berry (Grewia occidentalis), and scientists conclude that due to some kind of evolutionary adaptation
the large antelope can survive on lower quality food in times of little rain. Elands feed during night in hot weather and always for a very long time, and sleep long in daytime. Elands also feed on foliage and a variety of seeds, seedpods, herbs, and tubers. Like its distant gazelle and oryx relatives, the eland can conserve water by raising its body temperature as much as 7° Celsius (13.5° Fahrenheit) on hot days.
period of 9 months, and at once she can give birth to 1 calf only.
There are 3 different social groups- the first one is the males group, the smallest one living close to each other and sticking firmly over a particular food or water source. The males group are always roaming and are not stable. Secondly, the female group is much larger in size and covers greater areas. It travels around the plains full of grass in wet periods and during the dry periods it prefers bushy areas. In a recent experiment it was found that females have a complex linear hierarchy. it is often thought that it is the mother which gives certain female's dominance. Thirdly are the nursery groups, which is naturally formed when females give birth to calves. In no more than 24 hours the mother and calf join this group. The calves start befriending each other and stay back in the nursery group while the mother returns to the female group. The calves leave the nursery group when they are at least 2 years old and join the males and females group as per as their sex.
, Botswana
, Zimbabwe
, South Africa
, Malawi
and possibly Tanzania
. Population trends vary from increasing to decreasing within individual protected areas, and are generally increasing on private land and decreasing in other areas.
About the conservation status, IUCN says that about half of this estimated total population occurs in protected areas and 30% on private land . Protected areas that support major populations include Omo
(Ethiopia
), Serengeti
, Katavi, Ruaha
and Selous-Kilombero (Tanzania
), Kafue
and North Luangwa (Zambia
), Nyika
(Malawi
), Etosha (Namibia
), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
(Botswana
/South Africa
) and Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park (South Africa
). Most of these populations appear to be stable. Relatively large numbers of the common eland now occur on private land, particularly in Namibia
, Zimbabwe
and South Africa
, reflecting its value as a trophy animal. Common elands have also been widely domesticated in Zimbabwe
, South Africa
and Kenya
, as well as in Russia
, Ukraine
, and England
Yet the population is gradually decreasing due to habitat loss (due to expanding human settlements) and poaching for its superior meat. As they are docile and inactive most of the time they can be easily killed.
to eland. Common elands are also pictured as supporters in the logo of the Coat of arms
of Grootfontein
, Namibia
.
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
:Mbunga), also known as the southern eland or eland antelope, is a savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
h and plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
s antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
found in East
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
and Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
. It is the largest antelope in the African continent. It is native to Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, Congo, Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
, Swaziland
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
; and is possibly extinct in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
.
Etymology
The name "eland" is derived from the Dutch wordDutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
for elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
. When Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
settlers came to the Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
they named the largest wild ruminant
Ruminant
A ruminant is a mammal of the order Artiodactyla that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal's first compartment of the stomach, principally through bacterial actions, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again...
herbivore they met with the name of the huge northern herbivore. In Dutch the animal is called "Elandantelope" to distinguish it from the elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, which is found in the northern boreal forests
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
. Its scientific name 'Taurotragus oryx' is made of three Greek words- tauros (a bull), tragos (a he-goat)and orux (a gazelle or antelope).
Physical description
Bovid
A bovid is any of almost 140 species of cloven-hoofed ruminant mammal at least the males of which bear characteristic unbranching horns covered in a permanent sheath of keratin....
tribe of Tragelaphini. Females weigh 300 kilogram, measure 200 centimetre from the snout to the base of the tail and stand 125 centimetre at the shoulder. Bulls weigh 450 kilogram, are 240 centimetre from the snout to the base of the tail and stand 150 centimetre at the shoulder. The tail adds a further 50 centimetre. Coats are generally smooth at most of the body with a rough mane. Females have a tan coat, while males have a darker tan coat with a blueish-grey tinge; there may also be a series of white stripes vertically on the sides of bulls (mainly in parts of the Karoo
Karoo
The Karoo is a semi-desert region of South Africa. It has two main sub-regions - the Great Karoo in the north and the Little Karoo in the south. The 'High' Karoo is one of the distinct physiographic provinces of the larger South African Platform division.-Great Karoo:The Great Karoo has an area of...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
). But as males age they tend to turn a greyer color . Males have dense fur
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...
on their foreheads and a large dewlap
Dewlap
A dewlap is a longitudinal flap of skin that hangs beneath the lower jaw or neck of many vertebrates. While the term is usually used in this specific context, it can also be used to include other structures occurring in the same body area with a similar aspect, such as those caused by a double...
. Both sexes have horns, about 65 cm (25.6 in) long and with a steady spiral ridge (resembling that of the bushbuck
Bushbuck
The bushbuck is the most widespread antelope in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is found in rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaics and bush savannaforest and woodland. Recently, genetic studies have shown that the bushbuck, is in fact a complex of two geographically and phenotypically...
). The horns of males are shorter (17–26 in) and thicker than the females (20–27 in), which are more pointed. The female's horns are wider set and thinner than the male's. The eland has a mass of about 650 kg (1,433 lb), which is the double of the kudu
Kudu
The kudus are two species of antelope of the genus Tragelaphus:*Lesser Kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis*Greater Kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros- Etymology :...
. They have a hump at the shoulder and a broad fold of skin hanging from the neck. Elands are said to be one of the slowest antelopes and can even jump over a height of 2.5 meters or above. Elands have an average lifespan of 15–20 years, and some have been known to live for as long as 25 years . When walking, tendon or joints in the eland's foreleg produce a sharp clicking sound, the cause of which has not been widely investigated. The sound carries some distance and is a good indication of an approaching herd. Scientists take it as a form of communication in elands.
Taxonomy
Common eland are sometimes considered part of the genusGenus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Tragelaphus
Tragelaphus
The genus Tragelaphus contains several species of bovine, all of which are relatively antelope-like. Species in this genus tend to be large sized, lightly built, have long necks and considerable sexual dimorphism. The Common Eland was once classified in this genus as T. oryz...
, but are usually categorized as Taurotragus
Taurotragus
Taurotragus, commonly called Eland, is a genus of antelopes of the African savannah, containing two species: the Common Eland and the Giant Eland...
, along with the giant eland
Giant Eland
The giant eland is an open forest savannah antelope. It is found in Central African Republic, South Sudan, Cameroon and Senegal. There are two subspecies: the endangered T. d. derbianus, found in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park, and the low risk T. d...
. It belongs to the Artiodactyla order, Bovidae family and Bovinae
Bovinae
The biological subfamily Bovinae includes a diverse group of 10 genera of medium to large sized ungulates, including domestic cattle, the bison, African buffalo, the water buffalo, the yak, and the four-horned and spiral-horned antelopes...
subfamily. The common eland and giant eland are sometimes added in the Taurotragus
Taurotragus
Taurotragus, commonly called Eland, is a genus of antelopes of the African savannah, containing two species: the Common Eland and the Giant Eland...
genus also. Three subspecies of common eland have been recognized, although their validity requires investigation.
Ecology and behavior
The elands are most active in the morning and late afternoon, lying sheltered in the heat of the day. They're commonly found in large herds, with no dispersion during the rainy season. They live in large mixed groups, usually containing 25-70 individuals, though up to 400 have been observed. An average size group herd with juvenilesJuvenile (organism)
A juvenile is an individual organism that has not yet reached its adult form, sexual maturity or size. Juveniles sometimes look very different from the adult form, particularly in terms of their colour...
is approximately 50 individuals. Males use to stay in bushier areas when the females and juveniles
Juvenile (organism)
A juvenile is an individual organism that has not yet reached its adult form, sexual maturity or size. Juveniles sometimes look very different from the adult form, particularly in terms of their colour...
move into the plains to feed on the grasses. As a rule also, the groups of males are smaller than those of females and juveniles
Juvenile (organism)
A juvenile is an individual organism that has not yet reached its adult form, sexual maturity or size. Juveniles sometimes look very different from the adult form, particularly in terms of their colour...
. Some of its main predators include lion, cape hunting dog, leopard and spotted hyena.
Habitat and distribution
Common eland live in terrestrial systems, on the open plains of southern Africa and along the foothills of the great South African plateau. The species extends north into EthiopiaEthiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, to the east into western Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, most arid zones of Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and now even into South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
(Lydon). However, there is low density of elands in Africa due to poaching, human settlement etc. There are at least 3 elands/sq mi (1.2/km2). Now it has been reintroduced in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
also. Elands prefer to live in semi-arid areas that contain many shrub-like bushes, and often inhabit grasslands, woodlands, sub-desert, bush and mountaintops up to 15,000 ft (4600 m). Elands do, however, avoid forests, swamps, and deserts.
Elands can be found in many national parks and reserves today, like Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
and Tsavo NP, Masai Mara NR, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
; Serengeti
Serengeti
The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa. It is located in north Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya between latitudes 1 and 3 S and longitudes 34 and 36 E. It spans some ....
, Ruaha
Ruaha
Ruaha is an administrative ward in the Iringa Urban district of the Iringa Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 10,873....
, and Tarangire NP
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is a national park in Tanzania.Tarangire National Park is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania after Ruaha, Serengeti, Mikumi, Katavi and Mkomazi. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire river that crosses through the park, being the only source of water...
, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
; Kagera NP, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
; Nyika NP
Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park is Malawi’s largest national park, with an area of 3200 km² .-Location and road access:The park covers practically the whole of the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi, about 480 km north of Lilongwe and 60 km north of Rumphi by road...
, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
; Luangwa Valley and Kafue NP
Kafue National Park
Kafue National Park is the largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 km² . It is the second largest park in Africa and is home to over 55 different species of animals....
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
; Hwange
Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park is the largest game reserve in Zimbabwe. The park lies in the west, on the main road between Bulawayo and the widely noted Victoria Falls.It was founded around 1928 by a 22-year-old game ranger, Ted Davidson...
and Matobo NP
Matobo National Park
The Matobo National Park forms the core of the Matobo or Matopos Hills, an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometres south of Bulawayo, southern Zimbabwe...
, Tuli Safari Area, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
; Kruger NP
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
, Giant's Castle
Giant's Castle
Giant's Castle is a mountain peak in the southern African Drakensberg in KwaZulu Natal. Giants Castle offers visitors to the regions hiking opportunities with panoramic views. The Nature Reserve offers secluded accommodation, bushman rock art with easy access for everyone and about the best base to...
, Suikerbosrand NR
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is one of Gauteng’s premier ecotourism destinations. Set just a short distance from Johannesburg, an hour's drive from Johannesburg International Airport and near the historical town of Heidelberg, this reserve boasts a representative sample of the fauna and flora of...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
They live on home ranges that can be 174–422 km2. for females and juveniles
Juvenile (organism)
A juvenile is an individual organism that has not yet reached its adult form, sexual maturity or size. Juveniles sometimes look very different from the adult form, particularly in terms of their colour...
and 21–75 km2. for males, but in the dry season the home ranges reduce to 9–58 km2. and 1–39 km2. for females and males respectively. Sometimes the home ranges of males overlap when the females are in estrus, that is, the phase when the female is sexually receptive. Since food resources are not scarce and females roam frequently, males needn't have a territory
Territory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
of their own.
Feeding
As a herbivoreHerbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
, elands usually eat grass
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
, branch
Branch
A branch or tree branch is a woody structural member connected to but not part of the central trunk of a tree...
es and leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
. They are diurnal and nocturnal but tend to be inactive during the heat of day. The common eland has an unusual social life, leaving or joining herds as necessary without forming close ties. The size and power of the bull eland generally (but not always) discourages predators, but females are thought to be more vulnerable to attack. The common eland would walk long distances for water resources if unavailable in its surrounding. They switch to grazing in the early rainy season. According to a study, grasses made up over 45% of the eland's diet in December 1988 when it was only 6.3% the month before. Many experiments showed that eland are able to readily adapt to changes in seasonal patterns. Yet another observation made in 1985 till 1986 showed that eland were one of the few antelopes who did not regularly use a newly flooded plain where there was an abundance of grasses, rather they preferred to stay in to bushier areas that were more suitable to browsers and only seemed to use the flood plain for shade and water. As they quickly adjust to the surroundings due to seasonal changes and other causes, they also change their feeding habits. They prefer eating vegetation like cross-berry (Grewia occidentalis), and scientists conclude that due to some kind of evolutionary adaptation
Adaptation
An adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
the large antelope can survive on lower quality food in times of little rain. Elands feed during night in hot weather and always for a very long time, and sleep long in daytime. Elands also feed on foliage and a variety of seeds, seedpods, herbs, and tubers. Like its distant gazelle and oryx relatives, the eland can conserve water by raising its body temperature as much as 7° Celsius (13.5° Fahrenheit) on hot days.
Sociability and reproduction
Females have sexual maturity at 15–36 months and males at 4–5 years. Mating may occur anytime after reaching sexual maturity, especially observed during the rainy season. This is due to the gathering of all elands to feed on lush green plains full of grasses, in which some males and females start mating each other in separate groups. Males chase the females in order to know if she is in estrus by testing her urine. Usually a female chooses the most prevailing and fit male to mate with. Sometimes she runs away from attracted males trying to mate, causing more attraction. This even results into fights between attracted males, in which the hard horns help strongly. Males usually keep close contact with females in the mating period. Females are able of conceiving at the age of 2.5. Females have a gestationGestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
period of 9 months, and at once she can give birth to 1 calf only.
There are 3 different social groups- the first one is the males group, the smallest one living close to each other and sticking firmly over a particular food or water source. The males group are always roaming and are not stable. Secondly, the female group is much larger in size and covers greater areas. It travels around the plains full of grass in wet periods and during the dry periods it prefers bushy areas. In a recent experiment it was found that females have a complex linear hierarchy. it is often thought that it is the mother which gives certain female's dominance. Thirdly are the nursery groups, which is naturally formed when females give birth to calves. In no more than 24 hours the mother and calf join this group. The calves start befriending each other and stay back in the nursery group while the mother returns to the female group. The calves leave the nursery group when they are at least 2 years old and join the males and females group as per as their sex.
Conservation
Currently, elands are not endangered and are conserved by the U.S. Endangered Species Act, or regulated in international trade by CITES. As per the IUCN, it is said that citing various authors, indicates that population density estimates obtained by aerial counts in areas where the species is moderately common generally range from about 0.05 - 0.4/km². Higher density estimates (0.6-1.0/km²) have been obtained by aerial counts. Ground surveys or total counts of areas where the species is common have produced similar density estimates. produced a total population estimate of 136,000, with stable/increasing national populations are now confined to NamibiaNamibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
and possibly Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. Population trends vary from increasing to decreasing within individual protected areas, and are generally increasing on private land and decreasing in other areas.
About the conservation status, IUCN says that about half of this estimated total population occurs in protected areas and 30% on private land . Protected areas that support major populations include Omo
Omo National Park
Omo National Park is one of the National Parks of Ethiopia. Located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region on the west bank of the Omo River, the park covers approximately 4,068 square kilometers, about 870 kilometers southwest of Addis Ababa; across the Omo is the Mago National...
(Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
), Serengeti
Serengeti
The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region in Africa. It is located in north Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya between latitudes 1 and 3 S and longitudes 34 and 36 E. It spans some ....
, Katavi, Ruaha
Ruaha
Ruaha is an administrative ward in the Iringa Urban district of the Iringa Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 10,873....
and Selous-Kilombero (Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
), Kafue
Kafue
Kafue is a town in the Lusaka Province of Zambia on the north bank of the Kafue River, after which it is named. It is the southern gateway to the central Zambian plateau on which Lusaka and the mining towns of Kabwe and the Copperbelt are located.- Site :...
and North Luangwa (Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
), Nyika
Nyika
Nyika is a Swahili word meaning "bush" or "hinterland" . More specifically, it can refer to:* a collective term for nine ethnic groups in coastal Kenya, see Mijikenda* a desert in Kenya, see Nyiri Desert...
(Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
), Etosha (Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a large wildlife preserve and conservation area in southern Africa. The park straddles the border between South Africa and Botswana and comprises two adjoining national parks: Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park in Botswana. The...
(Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
/South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) and Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park (South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
). Most of these populations appear to be stable. Relatively large numbers of the common eland now occur on private land, particularly in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, reflecting its value as a trophy animal. Common elands have also been widely domesticated in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, as well as in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Yet the population is gradually decreasing due to habitat loss (due to expanding human settlements) and poaching for its superior meat. As they are docile and inactive most of the time they can be easily killed.
Uses
Common eland are sometimes farmed and/or hunted for their meat, and in some cases can be better utilized than cattle due to their being more suited to their natural habitat. This has led to some Southern African farmers switching from cattleCattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
to eland. Common elands are also pictured as supporters in the logo of the Coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Grootfontein
Grootfontein
Grootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
.