The Eland is the world’s largest antelope, an ox-like herbivore native to the African continent. It includes two distinct species: the Common Eland and the Giant Eland. The species is widespread across various African landscapes, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to different environments. Elands form a significant part of the African savanna ecosystem.
Identifying the Eland: Physical Characteristics
The Eland is recognizable by its sheer scale. Males of the Common Eland (Taurotragus oryx) stand up to 1.8 meters (nearly six feet) at the shoulder and can weigh up to 942 kilograms (over 2,000 pounds). The Giant Eland (Taurotragus derbianus) is named for its massive, widely divergent horns, though it is only marginally larger in maximum weight.
The coat is typically fawn or tawny, often featuring faint vertical white stripes along the flanks, especially in females and younger animals. Older males frequently develop a bluish-gray or darker coat and may lose the stripes entirely. Both sexes possess spiral, twisted horns; the female’s horns are generally longer and thinner than the male’s thicker, shorter set.
A large, pendulous dewlap hangs from the throat of both species, becoming more pronounced in mature males. This dewlap may aid in thermoregulation or serve as a visual marker in dominance displays. Mature bulls also develop a dense tuft of dark hair on their foreheads, indicating age and maturity. Despite their bulk, Elands are surprisingly agile and can easily clear a two-meter fence from a standstill.
Where Elands Live: Range and Habitat
The two Eland species occupy different territories across Africa. The Common Eland is the more widespread species, inhabiting the open plains, woodlands, and sub-deserts of eastern and southern Africa, ranging from South Africa north to Ethiopia.
The Giant Eland is restricted to a narrower belt of savanna woodland stretching from Senegal to the Nile River in Central Africa. Elands generally avoid true deserts, dense forests, and swamps, preferring areas with a mix of grasses and woody vegetation. Their habitat selection is driven by the availability of high-quality forage, often leading them to move seasonally between open grasslands and woodlands.
Elands are well-suited for arid and semi-arid regions due to their remarkable capacity for ecological adaptation. This allows them to survive in areas where surface water is scarce, linking directly to their feeding habits and water conservation mechanisms.
Eland Behavior and Diet
Elands are highly social animals that exhibit a nomadic lifestyle, moving across large home ranges in search of food resources. They are not territorial, and their herds are often loosely structured, with individuals frequently moving between groups. Herd sizes can vary widely, from small groups to large aggregations of up to 500 animals, especially during the rainy season.
The social organization is fluid, with males, females, and juveniles often forming separate, temporary groups. A unique behavior of the adult male Eland is the distinct clicking sound produced by their leg tendons as they walk, which may serve as a form of communication within the herd. Despite their size, Elands are generally quiet animals.
Elands are mixed feeders, meaning their diet includes both browsing on leaves and grazing on grasses. They consume grasses primarily during the wet season when they are abundant and nutritious. During drier periods, they shift to browsing on leaves, shoots, fruits, and forbs. This dietary flexibility allows them to survive in diverse environments. Their ability to obtain sufficient moisture from vegetation reduces their reliance on frequent trips to watering holes, a crucial adaptation for life in arid regions.