Newsflash from the European Nature Trust: The first uropean Elk born north of the "Great Glen' in 1100 years!
Last Friday afternoon, the 20th May, "Hulda", a European Elk imported from the north of Sweden in 2007, gave birth to her first calf. David Clark, Alladale Wilderness Reserve's Head Ranger, reports that mother and calf are in great shape. "Hercules", the sire of the calf (the calf's sex is unknown yet), has been temporarily "dispatched" by Hulda and watches on with interest from afar!
Elk usually give birth to twins, but it is quite normal for a "maiden" female to give birth to a single calf. The Reserve staff are delighted at the news and the event coincides beautifully for the 200 students who will camp out for four nights over the next seven weeks at Alladale who will get the rare chance to observe the "Kings of the Forest", as elk are known, with their new addition.
There are good fossil records of elk indicating it was found throughout Scotland after the Ice Age, as far north as Caithness. Elk fossil remains collected from 19 sites can be seen in the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh.
Elk usually give birth to twins, but it is quite normal for a "maiden" female to give birth to a single calf. The Reserve staff are delighted at the news and the event coincides beautifully for the 200 students who will camp out for four nights over the next seven weeks at Alladale who will get the rare chance to observe the "Kings of the Forest", as elk are known, with their new addition.
There are good fossil records of elk indicating it was found throughout Scotland after the Ice Age, as far north as Caithness. Elk fossil remains collected from 19 sites can be seen in the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh.
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