ANIMAL HIGHLIGHT

The Addax, also known as the white antelope or the screwhorn antelope, is an antelope native to theSahara.The addax has spiral horns in both males and females. In the winter, its coat is greyish-brown with white hindquarters and legs, and long, brown hair on the head, neck, and shoulders; in the summer, the coat turns almost completely white or sandy blonde. Males stand up to 45 inches at the shoulder, with females up to 43 inches. The females are generally smaller than the males. 

The addax native range is arid regions, semi-deserts, and sandy and stony deserts in North Africa. It mainly eats grasses and leaves of shrubs, leguminous herbs, and bushes. It can live without water for long periods of time. Addax form herds of five to 20 members, consisting of both males and females. The herd is usually led by one dominant male. Breeding season is at its peak during winter and early spring.

The addax is listed as critically endangered. It was once abundant across its native range, but is currently restricted to Chad, Mauritania, and Niger. It is locally extinct in Western Sahara, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, and Sudan. Like other endangered antelope or antelope that are extinct in the wild, large herds of Addax thrive on game ranches in the USA, primarily in Texas. 

The huge success of the increasing numbers of Addax are solely due to the value as a trophy on hunting ranches in Texas. Without the value as a trophy game animal, Addax numbers would be critically low, existing only in zoos and a few drive through safari parks.