Gerald Kapler, age 14, of Fort Atkinsons Iowa, for his question:
What is an eland?
The most glamorous wild animals live in Africa, enjoying themselves on the sunny plains, in the brush lands and on the forested slopes, They often roam together in large assorted groups of deer and antelope, zebra and ostrich, Settlers and hunters have driven them from much of their old territory but there are still vast tracts where they are allowed to live freely, There are laws to protect them but still more laws era needed to preserve this lavish display of wild life.
Most of the world’s antelopes live in Africa m d. the largest of them is the eland. Every antelope is a handsome animal but we cannot appreciate his full beauty as, he stands caged in a zoo or stuffed in a museum. A firefly in a bottle is a lovely sight to see, but it is far more wonderful to watch him flit freely through the night air.
The antelope is the fastest of racers, an acrobat and almost a ballet dancer. His greatest beauty is in motion and we see it at its peak only when he frolics freely in his native land.
The eland may stand six feet at shoulder level and tip the scalps at 1,200 pounds. His face :is gentle, his hoed held proudly and crowned with a pair of graceful, spiralling horns. Unlike his relatives, the eland has a flap of skin called, a dewlap under his chin. His sleek coat is pale fawn, often with a few paler stripes around. his body,
An eland loves company and is rarely seen alone. There may be 20 of them in a small herd and often a number of small herds team up to travel together to some distant picnic ground. They are, of course, deer, and they feed. entirely on vegetation. Many of them live in. the brush and scrub country between the grassy plains and the wooded slopes. They graze on tender grass and browse on delicate foliage.
An eland in full gallop is as fast for as the fastest horse, A herd in flight keep, pace with the lowest member and even this pat would tax a fast horse. Elands enjoy their galloping speed anti their acrobatic leaps. They revel in this kind of exercise, even when grazing safe from their enemies. From time to time a huge eland will leap clear over the back of his neighbor ‑ just for fun.
Because of his speed, an eland rarely attacks. When fleeing from danger he always runs down wind. He can be forced to veer right or left from this direction but he will never run against the wind. Should he be forced into this position, and only then, he will lower his magnificent horns and charge a man on a horse.