A post specially for Mrs P.

I post this specially for Mrs P. who commented on my last post with “Some fabulous photos. I have never seen nor heard of an eland…cool horns! Congrats on the 600th!” Now with such a comment I must post something that is educational for her… If you don’t know Mrs P. go to her site (CLICK HERE)

Now specially for you Mrs P.

It was a dark and scary morning as the sun attempted to climb over the horizon and gave us a this photo….

I was frighten it might not be a good day for photos but, luckily I was wrong and this small animal made an appearance specially for you…

and it is known as Eland (Taurotragus Oryx),

This antelope 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 (2077 lbs.) with an average of 500–600 kilograms (1,100–1,300 lb., 340–445 kilograms (750–980 lb.) for females). It is the second largest antelope in the world, being slightly smaller on average than the giant eland.

Its size can be seen in this photo when standing next to a zebra….. remembering the zebra is closer to the camera.

Both sexes have horns with a steady spiral ridge. The horns of males are thicker and shorter than those of females (males’ horns are 43–66 centimetres (17–26 in) long and females’ are 51–69 centimetres (20–27 in) long), and have a tighter spiral. 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.

The different horns can be seen in this photo with the male in the front and the female in the background…..

The common eland is the slowest antelope, with a peak speed of 40 kilometres (25 mi) per hour that tires them quickly. However, they can maintain a 22 kilometres (14 mi) per hour trot indefinitely. Elands are capable of jumping up to 2.5 metres (8 ft. 2 in) from a standing start when startled (up to 3 metres (9.8 ft.) for young elands). The common eland’s life expectancy is generally between 15 and 20 years; in captivity some live up to 25 years.

Eland herds are accompanied by a loud clicking sound that has been subject to considerable speculation. 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. The sound carries some distance from a herd, and may be a form of communication.

Thank you Wikipedia for the words to aid my post…

Eland.. a big Antelope.

Common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

The name ‘eland’ is Dutch for "elk" or "moose". I didn’t know that.!!

Common elands are spiral-horned antelopes.  Females weigh 300–600 kg (660–1,300 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. Bulls weigh 400–942 kg (880–2,080 lb.), are 240–345 cm (94–136 in) from the snout to the base of the tail and stand 150–183 cm (59–72 in) at the shoulder. The tail is 50–90 cm (20–35 in) long. Male elands can weigh up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb.)….

Males have dense fur on their foreheads and a large dewlap on their throats.

The common eland is just so slow, with a top speed of 40 kilometres (25 mi) per hour that tires them out quickly. However, they maintain a 22 kilometres (14 mi) per hour trot indefinitely. Elands are capable of jumping up to 2.5 metres (8 ft. 2 in) from a standing start when startled (up to 3 metres (9.8 ft.) for young elands). So don’t startle them…

I had a little fun with the photos I took recently of this antelope… enjoy (he was so close I could get some real close-ups…

Here he is noticing the food closer to me….

Eland…

The common eland (Taurotragus oryx)

I just happened to capture these photos as an eland moved behind a Zebra. I didn’t see the potential of the photos till I down-loaded to the computer…

A zebra is not that small an antelope, weighing in at approx. 350 kg. or 770 lbs. and standing 1.3 m. or 4 ft. 4 inches at the shoulder… an Eland however is the second largest antelope in the World… weighing in at an average 600 kg. or 1320 lbs. and 1,6 m. or 5 ft. at the shoulder. This young bull or youngish bull moved into frame and passed behind the zebra, demonstrating just how darn big he is….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is either a small zebra, or one big mother of an eland…………………….

Who burnt the bloody supper..?????

No words needed…

The Common Eland… A mighty big piece of meat…

Common elands are spiral-horned antelopes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their horns are not all the same as can be seen in the photo, the cow in the back ground has a longer and wider set.. This is a way of identifying them it is their selection of hats…

Females weigh 300–600 kg (660–1,300 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. Bulls weigh 400–942 kg (880–2,080 lb.), are 240–345 cm (94–136 in) from the snout to the base of the tail and stand 150–183 cm (59–72 in) at the shoulder. The tail is 50–90 cm (20–35 in) long.

Both sexes have horns with a steady spiral ridge (resembling that of the bushbuck). The horns are visible as small buds in new born and grow rapidly during the first seven months. The horns of males are thicker and shorter than those of females (males’ horns are 43–66 centimetres (17–26 in) long and females’ are 51–69 centimetres (20–27 in) long), and are more spiral. males use their horns during rutting season to wrestle and butt heads with rivals, females use their horns to stab predators in order to protect their young.

The common eland is the slowest antelope, with a top speed of 40 kilometres (25 mi) per hour that tires them quickly. However, they can maintain a 22 kilometres (14 mi) per hour trot indefinitely. Elands are capable of jumping up to 2.5 metres (8 ft. 2 in) from a standing start when startled (up to 3 metres (9.8 ft.) for young elands). The common eland’s life expectancy is generally between 15 and 20 years; in captivity some live up to 25 years.

Eland herds are accompanied by a loud clicking sound that has been subject to considerable speculation. 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. The sound carries some distance from a herd, and may be a form of communication.