Most people in Europe do not use English as their everyday language, and those who do have neither Alces alces nor Cervus canandensis at hand to look at. Which

Most people in Europe do not use English as their everyday language, and those who do have neither Alces alces nor Cervus canandensis at hand to look at. Which is probably why they got it wrong and applied the word "elk" to the wrong animal once they got across the pond. They should have asked some Scandinavians. :-)