The giant eland is an open-forest savanna antelope. Although it is the largest species of antelope, with a body length ranging from 220–290 cm (87–110 in), the epithet "giant" refers to its large horns. It is also called "Lord Derby's eland" in honour of Edward Smith- Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby, by whose efforts it was first introduced to England. As a herbivore, it eats grasses, foliage and branches. It usually forms small herds consisting of 15–25 members, both males and females. Giant elands are not territorial, and have large home ranges. They are naturally alert and wary, which makes them difficult to approach and observe. They can run at up to 70 km/h (43 mph) and use speed as a defence against predators. They mostly inhabit broad-leafed savannas, woodlands and glades. The giant eland is native to Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, and South Sudan. It is no longer present in Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo. Its presence is uncertain in Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and Uganda. There are two subspecies, which have been given different conservation statuses by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_eland
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1545:
The Council of Trent, an ecumenical council convoked by Pope Paul III in response to the growth of Protestantism, opened in Trent, Bishopric of Trent (now in modern Italy). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent
1809:
American physician Ephraim McDowell performed the world's first removal of an ovarian tumor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim_McDowell
1960:
With Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie out of the country, four conspirators staged a coup attempt and installed Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen as the new Emperor. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Ethiopian_coup_attempt
1989:
The Troubles: A Provisional Irish Republican Army engaged in a fierce firefight with the King's Own Scottish Borderers at a vehicle checkpoint complex in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Derryard_checkpoint
2011:
A man threw grenades and fired an automatic rifle at crowds in the Place Saint-Lambert, Liège, Belgium, killing 15 people and injuring 125 others, before committing suicide. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Li%C3%A8ge_attack
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
calendrical: Of, pertaining to, or used by a calendar system. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/calendrical
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
When words leave off, music begins. --Heinrich Heine https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Heinrich_Heine