Eland (antelope) |
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Unique Features
Despite their enormous size, elands can jump amazingly high and may clear heights of up to three metres. They are able to jump effortlessly over each other's backs from a standing start. During the rainy season they will graze well into the night. Eland are nervous and take flight at the slightest sign of danger. When they walk they make a "click" sound. Certain Bushmen tribes consider them to be sacred animals. Description The Eland is the largest African antelope. Both sexes have horns - the lower half spiraled like a corkscrew. Eland have very distinctive humps and dewlaps. Predators Their main predators are lion, leopard and wild dogs. They live in herds for the safety of numbers. Their power to jump plays an important part in flight as they are able to jump over large obstacles. Family Ties Eland usually form small mixed herds of up to 12 animals, but large herds are not uncommon. They have been known to migrate in herds of more than a thousand. Dominant bulls have the first choice of females when mating, and of food. Serious fights between males sometimes occur. |