Addax

Description:  The Addax, which is also known as the white antelope, is an antelope that lives mainly in the Sahara Desert. This animal has long twisted horns that are 20-31 inches long for females and 28-33 inches long for males (shown in first picture).

This is a great way to tell the difference between the genders of these animals. These animals are roughly three and a half feet tall and weigh anywhere between 130 pounds to 300 pounds. During the different seasons, their color of their fur changes slightly. In the winter, their coat is greyish-brown with white legs and long brown hair on their head, shoulders, and neck. In the summer, the coat turns almost completely white or a sandy blonde color. Today, it is said that around 500 of these animals are thought to exist in the wild, while 1000 are said to be in captivity.

Species Habitat and Range:  The Addax is well-adapted to live in desert habitats as they can survive without water for long periods of time. Some areas these animals live in have less than 100 mm of annual rainfall. The natural habitats of the Addax are arid regions, semi-deserts, and deserts with stone. Formerly, this animal is widespread in the Saharan region of Africa, west of the Nile Valley and all countries sharing the Sahara Desert. Today, the only known self-populating area is present in the Termit Massif Reserve (Niger). But, this animal is extremely rare to find in its natural habitat due to unregulated hunting. This animal is extinct in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Western Sahara. Areas where these animals reside are displayed in a shaded green area below, and areas where these animals have now been introduced are shaded in red near the top.

Species Role in Ecosystem and Importance:  Antelopes, including the Addax, are important to habitats as grazers and browsers. Also, since these animals live in such extreme conditions, they are important for Carnivores that are in search of food. But, since these animals are becoming extinct, humans must try to regulate the Carnivores from making the Addax become extinct. Many people that are in need of shoes, clothing, and tools often times are in need of animals that are as rare as the people that live in these areas. I would never be in favor of the killing of an animal, and these animals should be respected and regarded as one of the rarest antelopes in the world. With such a small population, these animals are a reward to even see out in the wild. These animals have some of the most beautiful horns and are regarded as the rarest antelope on earth. If we do not act now, many people and hunters will believe that its acceptable to hunt and extinct any species of antelope.

Cause of Decline: Since the mid-1800s, the population of the Addax has decrease by nearly 85%. And, unfortunately this decrease is mainly due to overhunting. These animals are slow in nature and are an easy target for hunters. Their meat, leather, and horns are highly prized for hunters, which is resulting in an increase in Addax deaths by humans. Also, due to habitat destruction by humans, these animals are not able to survive without those certain conditions. After the World Wars, these animals almost became extinct. Many experts say that the only reason these animals are still around is because of the amount of time they can survive without food or water and because of the help of humans to breed and keep them alive.

Current Conservation Efforts: Today, there are over 1000 Addax in Europe, Israel, Libya, Egypt, North America, Japan, and the US where the private captive breeding programs are located. These animals are protected in certain areas like Morocco and Algeria where they are protected from hunters. These animals are being introduced to different places in order to try and save this quickly decreasing population. They are protected by people and are being placed in areas that are inhabited by fewer humans to avoid hunters. These animals are a treasure to find and should not be viewed as an animal we can easily afford to lose.

Guidelines for Helping: A global conservation has been rallied for the Addax, accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). With the aid of substantial captive stocks managed in zoos worldwide, reintroduction efforts are in progress in Tunisia in Northern Africa and are being led by the Sahara Conservation Fund. If you would like to donate to this fund, you can do so by visiting their website at www.saharaconservation.org! Let’s save these beautiful creatures!