Animals

Once abundant throughout the savannah and arid lands of North Africa, droughts in the 1980s forced Addax from their desert retreats and exposed them to uncontrolled hunting.

Also known as the screwhorn antelope, Addax have a horn of about one metre in length. All antelope species have horns, but Addax are one of the few antelope species where male and females have horns of the same size.

Addax are often considered the most-well adapted antelope to a desert environment. They possess broad, flat hooves with flat soles that help prevent them from sinking into the desert sand. Their coat color changes from dark grayish-brown in winter to white in the summer as an efficient method of maintaining body temperatures. They also have black skin under the light coat which protects them from UV rays. And Addax rarely need to drink since they are able to get most of the water they need from the plants they eat.

Addax weigh up to 135kg and have a height around 1.7m. They have acute senses and are able to live far apart, their over developed sensory powers allowing them to locate each other at great distances.

Addax are nocturnal and will dig depressions in the sand in which to rest during the day. These are often located in the shade of boulders for protection from the wind and sun.

Addax herds would typically consist of 5-20 individuals, led by one dominant male. Female herd members establish their own dominance hierarchy, with the oldest individuals achieving the highest rank. This group structure is not as standard anymore due to their near extinction in the wild.

The gestation period is between 242-270 days. At birth, calves weigh between 5-6 kg and are quickly capable of walking. Both male and female calves are born with horns.

Addax live in desert terrain where they eat grass, and leaves of whatever bushes are available. They can survive without free water because they get moisture from their food and dew that condenses on plants.

Antelope are important to habitats as grazers and browsers, and an important prey for carnivores.  However Addax are one of the most endangered mammals in the world - current estimates show there to be less than 500 individuals left in the wild.

Their main threat is uncontrolled hunting by trophy hunters. They have also been destroyed by farmers and cattlemen, so as not to compete with their cattle for grazing land.