Literally, elks don't have cousins in the traditional sense. Cousins are usually related through a shared ancestor, but in the animal kingdom, we classify relationships based on shared evolutionary history. Elks are part of the deer family (Cervidae), but there isn't a single species that can be called their "cousin" in the way humans use the term.
However, we can talk about close relatives of elk:
* Other members of the Cervidae family: Elks are most closely related to other deer like red deer, sika deer, fallow deer, and roe deer. These are all considered to be their closest relatives.
* More distant relatives: Elk are also part of the Artiodactyla order, which includes other even-toed ungulates like pigs, hippos, and camels. While these animals are much further down the evolutionary tree, they are still considered to be related to elk.
So, the answer to "what is an elks cousin?" is a bit fuzzy. It depends on your definition of "cousin" and how closely related you're looking for. You can say that elk's cousins are other deer species, or even other ungulates, but it's important to understand that these are not direct "cousins" in the traditional sense.