This year seems to be no less eventful for Hungary’s largest common eland herd as we welcomed a male calf on March 1, the very first day of spring, after around 9 months of gestation. Although still in need of his mother’s care for a while, the little one is now getting to know his environment as well as his mates born last year – be sure to check out the whole family of now eight in the Africa Panorama Enclosure after we reopen. Common elands are rather uncommon in Hungarian zoos, found only in Győr besides our park, where they have been breeding very successfully for years.
Native to the savannahs in South and East Africa, common elands (Taurotragus oryx) are the second largest antelope species, with a maximum wither height of 180 cm and a weight of up to 1000 kg for adult males. Such a remarkable size is coupled with an impressive reddish or sand-colored coat with white stripes from back to belly and straight spiral horns often over 50 cm in length. Threatened primarily by habitat loss as well as poaching for meat, skin and trophies, they are included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Like a number of our other animals, the youngest member of the herd is yet to be adopted. If you want to make him really happy while also offering us tremendous help, please consider becoming a zoo foster parent. Further info at:
Debrecen Zoo and Amusement Park
