Irish Elk

Irish Elk

human vs giant elk

     The Megaloceros family was a genus of deer that lived through out Europe. This family was important to their environment during the ice age. The largest of this species was the Irish Elk or Giant Elk. They first appeared about 400,000 years ago. They stood about 7 ft at their shoulders and their antlers were about 12 ft from point to point. They weighed about 1,200 to 1,300 pounds. Their are different theories on how they became extinct. First, male elk is said to have had a problem similar to osteoporosis. Second, soon after the ice age their habitat changed and so didn't the vegetation. Their land was decreasing little by little and humans hunted and interfeared in their life more. It is not certain but for what ever reason these giant deer became extinct about 7,700 years ago.