Featured Animal: Addax
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They can live most of their lives without drinking water, deriving sufficient moisture from the plants they eat and by collecting dew off of leaves. They also rest during the heat of the day to further conserve water. Of course a prolonged drought will inhibit growth of plants so even the water conscious Addax can be adversely affected, and this is one of the reasons these animals are endangered.

Addax stand about 3 feet at the shoulders and weigh around 165 pounds. They are primarily white in color except for the brown “toupee” between the horns. During the winter they grow darker coats over much of their body. This will help collect more heat as opposed to their summer white coats that reflect heat, thus keeping them from getting too hot. Another handy feature is found in their broad, rounded hooves that keep them from sinking into the desert sand. Addax formerly ranged over the entire Sahara Desert of Africa, but four-wheel drive access to the desert and hunting with modern weapons nearly eradicated the species.

Fossil Rim has sent two Addax on a journey that will have them headed to Tunisia. Their first stop is the San Diego Wild Animal Park where they will undergo a pre-shipment quarantine. When they arrive in Tunisia they will be introduced into a park type setting to adjust to their new surroundings. Each national park has reception pens and larger acclimatization enclosures to facilitate the gradual introduction of antelope to the protected areas. Post-release monitoring will be carried out in accordance with recommendations prepared by the Zoological Society of London on behalf of the Tunisian Direction Générale des Forêts (TGF) and Convention of Migratory Species (CMS). The process includes husbandry, veterinary and monitoring training for relevant DGF personnel. Hopefully, the two Addax will one day be released into the true wild. This project has been coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and EAZA (Europe’s zoo organization) and has been ongoing for several years.

We are also pleased to be hosting the Antelope Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) Post Conference Tour. The TAG is meeting in Dallas April 13-16, and will be coming to Fossil Rim on the 17th for tours of the facilities and lunch. These are the folks who make all the decisions regarding which animals need the most attention and where zoological facilities should focus their efforts. Fossil Rim attempts to manage species that the TAG determines are highest priority.