One of the largest antelope species in the world, the eland antelope, also known as the common eland, is a rather uncommon sight at Hungarian zoos since it is found in no more than two of them, with the Debrecen Zoo as the only institution in the country that welcomes newborn calves year by year.
On the very first day of this summer, there was a new arrival in the largest eland antelope family in Hungary, now consisting of seven individuals. The little heifer is in good health, with an excellent appetite – and she is quite playful, too, which is great news for her siblings. Starting today, she will be on exhibit along with the rest of the herd in our Africa Panorama Enclosure.
Native to the dry and grassy savannas of Africa, the eland antelope (Taurotragus oryx) is a ruminant species belonging to the bovid family. A full-grown male may weigh up to a full ton and may reach a wither height of 180 cm. Eland antelopes are truly impressive animals to look at, with their reddish or sand-colored coat and white stripes from back to belly. They are mostly threatened by habitat destruction and poaching for meat, skin and trophies – they are therefore included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
