An eland is the largest species of antelope in the world, standing up to six feet tall at the shoulder and weighing as much as a ton. These powerful animals live in the grasslands and woodlands of eastern and southern Africa, where they graze on leaves, grass, and fruit.

Despite their massive size (a big male eland weighs about as much as a grand piano), elands are surprisingly graceful. They can jump over eight feet high from a standing position, which helps them escape predators like lions. Both males and females have long, spiral horns that can grow up to three feet long.

Elands live in herds that can include dozens of animals, and they're known for being relatively calm compared to other wild antelopes. Ancient people in southern Africa painted elands on cave walls thousands of years ago, showing how important these animals were to their lives. Today, some African farmers raise elands like cattle because they're well-adapted to hot, dry conditions and can thrive where regular cattle might struggle.