Giant eland

Scientific name: Tragelaphus derbianus

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Robust frame with dark grey-brown to chestnut coat. Males carry long, spiraled horns and a pronounced neck mane. Strong sexual dimorphism, with females smaller and lighter in coloration.

Size and weight

Males weigh 900–1600 kg, body length 240–290 cm; females 400–600 kg, body length 200–240 cm.

Habitat

Savanna woodland and open grassland in West and Central Africa, typically with scattered tree cover and productive grass areas. Ranges from lowland to moderate elevations.

Distribution

Present across Sahel grasslands and savanna woodlands from northern Nigeria through Cameroon, Chad, and extending to Sudan and Ethiopia. Prefers open to semi-open terrain.

Diet

Primary grazer during rains; shifts to browse (leaves and shrubs) in dry season.

Behaviour

Crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk; may graze throughout the day in cool weather. Live in small herds or bachelor groups; territorial bulls mark territory through scent marking.

Hunting tips

Track in soft ground or sand—note large, deep hoofprints with distinct split marks. Identify droppings (coarse pellets in cylinders). Approach with wind at your back using natural cover; these animals are highly alert and run far when flushed. Position yourself along water corridors or grazing grounds at dawn or dusk.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 2 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.