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eland 2


eland 2
Photo Information
Copyright: George Veltchev (mwmod99) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 855 W: 655 N: 3361] (14196)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2010-11-26
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 5D MKII, Canon EF 300\4L IS
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2012-02-03 1:18
Viewed: 3392
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Eland

Males can grow to a shoulder height of 1,7 metres and weigh about 900 Kg. In spite of its heavy physique, eland are remarkably agile and large bulls can easily jump over regular fences. They have a slight hump at the shoulders and prominent dewlap. The heavy horns of both sexes slant backwards and lengths of as much as one metre have been recorded.

Females are much smaller, weighing about 450 kilograms. Males have a patch of dark hair on their foreheads that covers glandular skin. Both males and females have fawn coloured coats. They also have faint vertical white stripes on their flanks, which are distinctive to the eland.


Diet

The Eland is a browser, utilizing a wide diversity of plant species. It can exist for long periods without open water, but is then reliant on the fruits of Tsamas and Gemsbok Cucumbers to meet its water requirements.

Breeding

Although the Eland does not have a specific breeding season, in South Africa it has been noted that there are peak months when significantly more calves are born than in other months. A single calf is born to a mother after a gestation period of approximately nine months. Calves can run with the herd a few hours after birth.

Behaviour

One of the interesting characteristics of an Eland herd is that it includes a nursery for the calves. When threatened by predators, the herd forms a front with the large males taking the lead positions while the calves and pregnant females are protected behind the fortress of large males. Since Eland herds migrate widely in search of good grazing, dominant bulls do not defend spatial territories. However, bulls do display territorial or possessive behaviour towards cows during oestrus.
Habitat

Preferred habitat varies from semi-deserts, grasslands, to light savannah north of the Orange river, to light woodland in KwaZulu-Natal. The Eland is a nocturnal animal and the vegetation that absorbs moisture from the atmosphere at night provides ample fluid sustenance for his large antelope that lives in areas with little surface water.

Predators

Adult Eland are only preyed upon by lions and spotted hyenas and the young fall prey to most of the larger carnivores such as Leopards, Cheetahs and Wild Dogs.

Image taken in RAW, ISO320
CeltickRanger, maurydv, drchoneydew, nagraj, joska, maaciejka, marius-secan, Argus, mamcg, anel, aljy, Jakkals has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ana974: sarcastic !!!!mwmod99 2 02-03 14:03
To maaciejka: Perfect compositionmwmod99 1 02-03 11:54
To pirate: Ish Tom!mwmod99 1 02-03 06:27
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello George

Your photo's image quality it is great as always,
you shoot the photo at the animal's best pose moment,
with great focus sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hello George
Wonderful capture of this beautiful animal. Impressive sharpness, beautiful natural colors and lightning.
Thanks for the note.
Regards
J. Diogo

Hallo George,
a very beautiful capture of this Eland in a fantastic posture, superb sharpness, point of view and composition are excellent
Thanks for your workshop, very well done
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Looks like he appreciates that tree alright! And dang those pesty flies!! You certainly captured the essence of this land..wow. Great job

  •      
  • nagraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1618 W: 106 N: 3208] (15166)
  • [2012-02-03 5:02]

Hi,
Beautiful Eland with interesting behavior here, good image. tfs.
nagraj.v

Hi George
I would be happy to see an oxpecker on that Eland, should be easy for a Photoshopexpert ;-P
otherwise great
tfs

W-O-W ! A big WOW !!!!!!
A professional picture ,indeed! I have no words to comments your pic here...I am speechless...
Well my dear-sarcastic-friend-George, many congrats! You are a great photographer!( Happy?)
Friendly regards from another-sarcastic-friend-aNa

PS: ah!!!!!!!!!! I found something to talk about: the lightness in the flanks of the animal is wonderful.( Happy?);)

Another impressive scene from Africa George! Beautiful animal and excellent photo!
Regards,
Christodoulos

Hi George,
amazing photo of this animal. Nice pose. Perfect composition.
Have a nice weekend,
Maciek

Hello George,
Lovely capture.
Exceptional sharp image with impressive focus and very nice natural colors.
I love the excellent composition with great POV.
Perfect shoot as usual.
Marius.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2012-02-03 13:02]

A beautiful use of of light and shade that, apart from the top sharpness, makes this eland stand out so well against the natural bush BG. The POV suits the pose and the composition is about right.
Nice one and thanks for sharing it!
Have a great weekend George,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 3053 W: 3 N: 8715] (40574)
  • [2012-02-05 7:08]

Hello George,
What a powerful creature and what a pose. Very vivid natural shot, just the way I like them a lot. Well chosen square framing and composition and sharpness as usual excellent.
Bravo again!
Kind regards
Anne

Hello George,
A Beautiful capture of Africa's largest antelope. Great sharpness and detail with it's natural colour and a superb POV. Well done my friend.
Best regards,
Carl

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