Addax Nasomaculatus
White Antelope - Critically Endangered
Facts
-The Addax is also commonly known as the White antelope
-Addax live in very dry weather and very hot climates
-they live in the dessert in central and eastern Africa
the Addax was once very abundant in North Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Libya and the western Sahara as they are now extict in those areas.
-there has been an 80% decline in the population over the past 20 years
-this animal is well adapted to sustain the harsh environment as they can with stain the extreme desert conditions.
-Living in the Terrestrial biomes
Habitat loss
The Addox was once very abundant in many continents. There has been a decreace in population since the mid 1800's, therefor this animal is at risk for extinction. The addax can be found on the red list in the crittically endangered category. The meat for this animal is highley prized and is a delecacy. There meat can be sold for a very high profit as well as these animals are quite slow so to hunt the addax is not difficult. In there habitat they experience very little rainfall so drought is often one of the causes of death, despite there adaptation to their environment.
Threats
The major threats of the Addax is hunting as well as extreme drought condition in the environment. Anualy the addax will recieve less than 100mm anualy therefor the extreme dry conditions for an extended period of time will decreace the population. The meat for the addax is highly valued and is very easy to hunt . This has been taken advantage of and as a result very few are living today.
Numbers
As of today , there are only about 300 of these species living in the wild, as they are are now extinct in Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, western Sahara and many more. However there are few in Niger, Chad, and have fortunatly been introduced into Tunisia as well as Morocco.
Map
Whats being done to protect the species?
As the Addax is considered one of the rarest of antelopes on earth, with roughly 300 left, the small number in population has raised a red flag to conserve and save the critically endangered species. To start off, they have now started to breed the addax within captivity to increase the numbers. With scientific knowledge about the species , we will be able to figure out how to maintain and/or improve the conservation. The AZA (Association of zoos and aquariums) are taking action for breeding the addax in captivity.The reinforcement being done in Tunisia and northern Africa are being held by the Sahara Conservation Fund.