Common Eland: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Antelopes of Africa · day 3 of 7

Five facts

1. A herd of elands clicks as it walks. One idea: the halves of each hoof spread under the weight, then snap together when the leg lifts.
2. It is the slowest antelope, topping out at 40 km/h. But it can keep up a 22 km/h trot for as long as it likes.
3. When startled, an eland can leap 2.5 m from a standing start. Young ones can jump up to 3 m.
4. Females have longer horns than males. Males wrestle rivals with theirs, while mothers use their horns to protect their young.
5. About a day after birth, calves join a nursery group. They make friends and stay there while their mothers go back to the adult females.

The quiz

1. What may cause the clicking sound of an eland herd?

• Their teeth chattering
• Their horns knocking together
• The halves of their hooves snapping together (correct)
• Their tails slapping their sides

The hoof halves may spread under the weight and snap together as the leg lifts.

2. What is the common eland's top running speed?

• 40 km/h (correct)
• 90 km/h
• 120 km/h
• 5 km/h

No antelope is slower: it peaks at 40 km/h and tires quickly.

3. How high can a startled adult eland jump from a standing start?

• 20 cm
• 50 cm
• 10 m
• 2.5 m (correct)

Adults can jump up to 2.5 m from a standing start.

4. What do female elands use their horns for?

• Digging for water
• Protecting their young from predators (correct)
• Climbing rocks
• Knocking fruit from trees

Mothers defend their calves from predators with their horns.

5. Where do eland calves stay after their mothers go back to the adult females?

• In a nursery group with other calves (correct)
• Alone in a burrow
• With the adult males
• In a tree

Calves befriend each other and stay in the nursery group.

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