Rare Endangered Addax Antelope Born in Brookfield Zoo

The declining population of addax antelopes had a welcome addition, a rare male addax was born on June 7 at the Brookfield Zoo and more calves are awaited.

Listed as a critically endangered species of antelope by the IUCN, addax antelopes adapt themselves well to the desert habitat. They are also known as white antelopes and screwhorn antelopes. In summers these animals are mainly nocturnal. They get moisture from the sap of vegetation and can survive their entire lives with the water that they store in the body fat. They can grow up to three feet.

Since the mid 1880's the population of addax witnessed a drop and they are easy to hunt as their movements are very slow. There are nearly 200 addax species present in 19 North American Zoos and around 300 in the wild.

The birth of the new male calf weighing 19 pounds is significant for the species as it is near the brink of extinction in Africa's Sahara desert.

The newest member of addax was born to Sara (4) and Winston (11). The pairing was based on the breeding recommendation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Addax Species Survival Plan (SSP) that is a cooperative population management and conservation program for the species in North American zoos.

Addax antelopes have been in the Brookfield zoo since 1935 and have added141 calves to their American population. The Chicago Zoological Society, which manages the Brookfield Zoo, is one of the organizations that is working toward reintroducing addax in to the reserves of Tunisia.

Other addax antelope members expecting at Brookfield Zoo are Martha (13), Mali (5) and Mona (15).