2006Estonian Fauna - The Elk - Set

The elk, called moose in America, is the biggest member of the deer family, with eight subspecies in the temperate zone of Eurasia and North America. The European elk has been present in Estonia for about 9,000 years. It has a dark brown or blackish coat, long legs of a lighter shade and a peculiar sac, called the bell, hanging from its neck. Its shoulder height is up to 180–190 centimetres and it weighs up to 500 kilograms. The life span of the elk in the wild is rarely more than ten years. The bull has big rod or spade shaped antlers, at 8 to 10 years of age with 10–12 tines and a total width of up to 140 cm. The mating season is in the autumn and one to two young are born a year. The elk is the most important game animal in Estonia until today. Before World War II there were only slightly above 300 individuals but their number grew fast in the 1950s. In 2005 the Estonian elk population was higher than 12,000. In 2004, 4,075 elk were hunted, but unfortunately more than 200 animals are yearly killed in traffic accidents. Its worst natural enemies are the bear and wolf. As the elk mainly feeds on young shoots, leaves and bark, it may cause damage to forestry. The elk is a pleasant animal, peaceful in its behaviour, but can be dangerous to man when wounded.