Addax

The addax (Addax nasomaculatus), also known as the white antelope or screwhorn antelope, is one of the most critically endangered desert mammals on Earth. Fewer than 100 individuals remain in the wild, primarily in Niger’s Termit and Tin-Toumma region, with additional populations in captivity and reintroduction sites. Conservation projects focus on anti-poaching, habitat protection, and reintroduction from captive-bred herds.

Key Projects Protecting the Addax

1. Addax Conservation Project – Niger

  • Led by the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF)in partnership with the Government of Nigerand the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD).
  • Protects the last known wild addax population in the Termit and Tin-Toumma National Nature Reserve, one of Africa’s largest protected areas.
  • Activities include anti-poaching patrols, satellite tracking, and community engagement with local nomadic groups to reduce hunting pressure.
  • Field surveys and camera traps monitor the remaining herds and their desert habitat.

2. Reintroduction Programs in Chad

  • The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)and SCF have reintroduced captive-bred addax into the Ouadi Rimé–Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve in central Chad.
  • The project began in 2016 and has successfully established a free-ranging population that is breeding in the wild.
  • The reintroductions use genetically diverse individuals from global zoo populations managed under the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)programs.

3. Global Captive Breeding and Genetic Management

  • Managed through international studbooksand coordinated breeding programs to maintain genetic diversity.
  • Major contributors include the Al Ain Zoo (UAE), Marwell Wildlife (UK), and Saint Louis Zoo (USA).
  • Captive populations serve as a genetic reservoir for future reintroductions and research on desert adaptation.

4. Community-Based Conservation and Awareness

  • SCF and local partners conduct education and outreach campaigns with nomadic and pastoralist communities in Niger and Chad.
  • These programs promote coexistence, discourage illegal hunting, and provide economic incentives for local people to protect wildlife.

Supporting Organizations

  • Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF)
  • Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD)
  • Government of Niger
  • Chad Ministry of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development
  • European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA)
  • Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

The Broader Mission
The survival of the addax depends on a combination of in-situ protection in Niger, reintroduction efforts in Chad, and global captive breeding programs led by SCF and EAD. These projects have begun to rebuild wild populations and ensure that the addax, once nearly extinct in the wild, has a sustainable future across its historic Saharan range.
Marc Schattner