Ireland: Fishermen Find Antlers of Giant Elk

Fishermen in Northern Ireland have made the catch of their lives, hauling in a giant Irish elk skull estimated to be over 10’500 years old. The impressive specimen is approximately 3 metres wide and almost completely intact.

Raymond McElroy and his assistant Charlie Coyle found the massive antlers in their fishing net in the north-western region of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake on the island. The men retrieved the antlers from no more than 6 metres depth.

All finds from the same area of the lake

About thirty years ago, another fisherman caught a set of antlers in his net in the same lake, which he donated to a local school. Another fisherman also found the complete jawbone of the giant elk some years ago, and it is estimated to be at least 14’000 years old. This has led to speculation that the skull, antlers, and jawbone all belong to the same animal.

"I was shocked when I pulled it over the side of the boat and saw the skull and antlers," McElroy recalled.

Extinct for over 10’000 years

Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) have been extinct for more than 10’000 years and were, according to the Museum of Paleontology at the University of California, one of the largest deer species ever to have lived on Earth.

The name Irish Elk is somewhat misleading on both counts, as they are technically deer and were found far beyond Ireland — they were present throughout Europe, northern Asia, and North Africa. Nevertheless, remains of these large wildlife have been found more frequently in the bogs and lakes of Ireland than in any other part of the world.

The deer lived in Ireland when the weather suited open grassland, but years later forests began to grow. "Enormous antlers are not well suited to woodland," said Simms, "environmental changes caused their extinction."