Jinzo X's video: Moose - The Largest Deer In The World Documentary

The moose has been part of human history from our arrival on these continents, has significance in Northern cultures in a multitude of ways - from contemporary hunting to prehistoric artwork – and to this day, it captures the imagination and inspires respect in those who live alongside them. Before we go any further, let’s take a look at some of the confusion around the names of these animals. In Europe, moose are known as elk. This word comes from the same root as its Latin name: Alces alces. By the time colonizers arrived in North America, moose were long extinct in Britain, and ‘elk’ was just a general term for any large deer. As a result, the American Elk, Cervus canadensis, got lumped with the name. On discovering the North American populations of Alces, settlers then had to use the word moose; a derivation from the indigenous Algonquian word "moos" or "mooswa". So, despite being the only species in its genus, the Alces alces have a different name in Europe and North America. A healthy moose can live up to 25 years. Still, to reach this ripe old age, they have to survive a vulnerable childhood, in which over half of young moose are killed by predators. Not much will stand off against an adult moose, but for the gangly youngsters, this is a dangerous habitat. Wolves, bears, cougars, coyotes and even wolverines will have a go at a juvenile moose, and this plethora of foes is what leads to the high infant mortality rate in the species. But this is an animal whose tenacity and adaptability make it one of the most successful large mammals on earth. The first thing you’ll notice about a mature moose is just how big it is. The largest individuals can reach up to 8 feet (or 2.4 meters) in shoulder height, reach lengths of over 10 feet (that’s over 3 meters) and can weigh up to almost 1,800 pounds (or 800 kg). At certain times of the year, a large bull will sport distinctive, palmate antlers that can span over six feet (or a bit under two meters) across. Like all antlers, these are made of bone, and unlike horns, have a system of blood vessels and a velvety skin covering them. As well as a target for trophy hunters, these antlers are a proud display of health and strength, and males distribute a significant amount of their resources to both growing them and carrying them around on their heads every mating season. They usually weigh approximately 45 pounds (or about 20 kg). When they’re no longer needed, the blood supply will be cut off and the antlers will shed. This is also the time when you’re likely to hear the sounds a moose is capable of. A bellowing bull moose is as loud as a lion and its calls echo ominously through the forest. Narrator: Larry G. Jones