End of April twins
Photographed by Jaan Mitt
Translation: SilverT
… standing still creates some difficulties
Two or three days old elk calves
Eurasian elk Põder Alces alces
Jaan was able to photograph the elk calves on April 26th – he needed to react quickly before the mother elk discovered him. As an experienced man of the nature, Jaan was considerate to the surroundings, because a large female with calves „won`t take a joke“. Something for the nature photographer to remember as the calving season is just starting.
Younger elk cows have one calf and older ones have two – birth weight is between six to sixteen kilograms. The elk cow has four teats, daily milk production is around seven litres and the calves will be suckled for four months. Milk production naturally decreases by the end of summer but the calves will have consumed half a ton elk`s milk by then.
The indigenous inhabitant of our nature who was extensively hunted nine thousand years ago as is proven by bone findings of archaeological excavations – the main game animals of that era were elks and beavers.
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