Mammals
Elk
Cervus elaphus canadensis
The wapiti, or elk (not to be confused with the European moose), is one of the largest deer in the world. Males carry huge branched antlers and in autumn give a high, powerful bugle that carries for kilometres.
In short
The elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) is a species with IUCN conservation status LC (Least concern). It inhabits open forests, grasslands and mountain edges, moving in large herds between high summer pastures and valleys in winter. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the elk live?
It inhabits open forests, grasslands and mountain edges, moving in large herds between high summer pastures and valleys in winter. During the rut males gather harems of females and defend them from rivals.
Is the elk endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern (LC) with an increasing population, supported by effective management; in the past, however, it had been wiped out from large parts of its North American range.
Facts about the elk
- It is one of the largest deer in the world.
- The males' autumn bugle carries for kilometres.
- In America "elk" means the wapiti, not the European moose.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Cervus canadensis (Least Concern)
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.