Eland - Characteristics, Adaptation, Domestication And Conservation
antelopes
Eland (Taurotragus oryx) are the largest African antelopes, weighing up to a 2,205 lb (1,000 kg) and standing 6.6 ft (2 m) at the shoulder. They belong to the family Bovidae in the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed hoofed mammals. Eland belong to the tribe Tragelaphini, a closely-related group of spiral-horned antelopes, whose members are not territorial. Both sexes posses long horns, and females are slightly smaller than males.
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The horns of eland are about 2 ft (0.6 m) long, with one or two tight spirals. Eland have five or six white stripes on their bodies and white markings on their legs as well. The young are reddish brown, while older males are a bluish gray. Other distinctive markings include a crest running along their spines, a tuft of hair on the tail (like a cow tail), and a large loose flap of skin below the ne…
Eland can adapt to a wide range of conditions. They can be found in arid regions, savannas, woodland and grassland areas, and in mountain ranges as high as 15,000 ft (4,570 m). Eland, like all bovids, are ruminants (cud-chewing animals) living on a diet of leaves, fruits, seed pods, flowers, tubers, and bark. They sometimes break down higher branches with their horns to feed on leaves of trees. El…
Rock paintings indicate a domestic relationship between eland and bushmen. In Natal, South Africa, eland have been domesticated for use as both dairy and draft animals, and for their tough hides. On their own and in low-density areas, they are endangered by agricultural development, which diminishes their range, and by hunting. Their meat is considered delicious and is prized as a source of protei…
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