Home / Environment / Critically Endangered Addax Calf Born at Buffalo Zoo
Critically Endangered Addax Calf Born at Buffalo Zoo
4 Aug
Summary
- A critically endangered addax calf was born at Buffalo Zoo on July 4.
- Wild addax populations number around 100 due to habitat loss and poaching.
- Zoo conservation plans aim to bolster addax numbers globally.
A new addax calf, a critically endangered species, was born at the Buffalo Zoo on July 4, 2026. This birth represents a vital step in conservation efforts for the antelope, which faces severe threats in its native North African desert habitat. Approximately only 100 addax remain in the wild, largely due to drought, poaching, and habitat destruction from oil drilling.
The calf, born to parents Patricia and Dune, is reportedly doing well under its mother's care and is energetically active. Visitors can observe the calf in the zoo's habitat. This is the 25th addax born at the Buffalo Zoo since 1991, highlighting the facility's ongoing commitment to the species' survival.
While wild populations are critically low, addax numbers are more robust in zoos and wildlife facilities worldwide. Programs such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which facilitated Patricia and Dune's relocation to Buffalo, are instrumental in ensuring the species' future. Addax are herbivores characterized by a distinctive white 'X' marking on their faces.
