Marwell Zoo welcomes critically-endangered addax calf
It's the latest arrival in a baby boom at the Hampshire wildlife park
Another critically endangered addax calf has been born at Marwell Zoo near Winchester.
The new arrival, born last Friday (September 13th) is the fourth male for mother Amelie and father Tamerisk at the Hampshire wildlife park.
Addax are are a species of antelope, of which around only 30 to 90 are currently thought to be left living in the wild.
Keepers say the calf, who has already been out in the paddock exploring with his parents, is reported to be doing well and gaining in confidence daily.
Senior animal keeper Zoe Newnham said:
"He is doing really well and is very confident and inquisitive, and a great addition to our herd here at Marwell.
"The conservation of Addax is especially important as the species is listed as Critically Endangered International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with only 30 -90 mature individuals left in the wild.
"Marwell works with addax both in the wild, and here at the zoo by being part of the European Endangered Species Programme breeding programme, which our calf is now the newest member of!"
Once widespread across the Sahelo-Saharan region of Africa, addax are now only known to be present in a small area of Niger with numbers continuing to decrease.
The IUCN Red List notes that “the species is at serious risk of becoming extinct in the wild” as a result of hunting, drought, farming pressures and oil exploration.
Addax are adapted to living in hot, dry environments and have a pale coat to reflect the heat. Their large hooves spread out to help them move in sandy habitats.
Marwell is one of just three zoos in the UK that houses addax and manages protected areas in Tunisia where addax have been released.
The calf is the latest arrival in recent weeks following the birth of a male Rothschild’s giraffe, female Grevy’s zebra, male mountain bongo and female sitatunga.