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Life without water
"The addax almost never drinks water. It survives in the desert by extracting moisture from grass and leaves. Even in temperatures above 40 degrees!"
Discover in real lifeHabitat:
desert and dry areas in North Africa
Food:
desert grasses and leaves
Weight:
♀ 60 to 90 kilograms ♂ 100 to 125 kilograms
Number of young:
1 young
Gestation period:
9 months
To be seen:
along walking safari, bus safari and car safari
IUCN:
critically endangered
EEP:
yes
About the addax
The addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is a desert antelope found in the arid regions of North Africa. It is perfectly adapted to life without water. By being active at night and sheltering in self-dug pits during the day, it manages to avoid the heat. This antelope is one of the few species that can survive in the desert. Yet it has all but disappeared in the wild. Due to hunting and the increasingly dry climate, there are only 30 to 90 adult animals left. They are hunted for their skin and meat, and because they cannot run fast, they are easy prey.
Habitat and threats
The addax lives in the deserts and dry areas of North Africa, such as the Sahara Desert. This antelope is perfectly adapted to living in heat and drought. Its broad hooves allow it to move well over the loose sand, and it can survive for long periods of time by extracting moisture from plants.
Today, the addax is virtually extinct in the wild. Due to hunting, disturbance of its habitat and competition with livestock, there are only a few dozen left in the wild. Also, oil and gas activities in desert areas cause severe disturbance to their habitat. The species is listed as "critically endangered" on the IUCN list. Fortunately, breeding programs have been established in zoos and nature reserves to preserve the species and possibly release it back into the wild.
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Species conservation in the wild
Did you know that more than4,000 animal speciesare threatened with extinction? Zoos aim to protect and preserve these species. That's why more than 325 European parks are working together in an EEP. This abbreviation stands forEAZAEx situProgram. EAZA is the name of the organization to which the parks are affiliated and Ex Situ means "outside the natural habitat. The addaxes at Beekse Bergen are also part of an EEP. A coordinator is designated for each EEP. This person maintains a studbook of data on a species and manages the population in zoos. This means that the coordinator, together with a team, advises which animals may have offspring together and therefore will move to other parks. This way, the chance of healthy offspring and thus keeping the species alive is the greatest. On the signs in Beekse Bergen you can recognize animals with an EEP by the logo of a rhino and her calf.
More info on Sahara Conservation FundMore info on Stichting Wildlife