Group size and association patterns of the common eland ( Tragelaphus oryx )

This paper presents data on aspects of the social organization of the eland antelope in the wild in Kenya, based on long‐term observations of eland groups and of individual known animals. Group size varied from solitary animals to groups of several hundred. The largest groups always contained calves and juveniles, while small groups comprised adult animals only. Groups were largest in wet seasons in open grassland, and smallest in dry seasons in forest. Associations between individual eland were brief in duration, and group membership was in a constant state of flux. These findings are related to current knowledge of the social organization of antelope, and of the tribe Tragelaphini.