Addax, Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve, Chad
The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is a true desert specialist, once common across the Sahara, they have been nearly hunted to extinction in the wild. Some of the very few remaining wild Addax were found in the Tin Touma Desert in Niger, this area was a part of the protected Termit and Tin Touma Reserve. Unfortunately oil was discovered in the reserve, Chinese oil companies arrived, Nigerien soldiers were then sent into the reserve to protect the Chinese oil workers, the soldiers killed most of the last remaining Addax. The Niger government then chose to remove the Tin Touma Desert from the reserve, so that the oil would no longer be inside the reserve, they added an area of land onto the other side of the reserve, but this is not such good habitat for Addax and other desert wildlife. A very few individuals may survive on the Niger/Chad border.
In 2020 the Sahara Conservation Fund and Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, began the reintroduction of Addax to the Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in central Chad, where the species had become extinct. A good population of these critically endangered antelopes exists in captivity in zoos around the world, in Jan 2020 the first 15 animals were released in to the reserve. Further reintroductions and births has increased the population to 97 (at the time of my visit), still more animals will be reintroduced over the next few years, establishing a substantial wild population.
December 2023 update, the Sahara Conservation Fund in collaboration with African parks, have just moved 10 Addax from OROA to the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve that is managed by African Parks, where they have been released, more animals will be moved in the coming years, to establish a wild population of at least 500 Addax in Ennedi, the last Addax likely disappeared from Ennedi many decades ago. This if successful will mean that there will now be two wild populations of Addax in Chad, there is perfect habitat for them in Ennedi so they should thrive there.
Addax, Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve, Chad
The Addax (Addax nasomaculatus) is a true desert specialist, once common across the Sahara, they have been nearly hunted to extinction in the wild. Some of the very few remaining wild Addax were found in the Tin Touma Desert in Niger, this area was a part of the protected Termit and Tin Touma Reserve. Unfortunately oil was discovered in the reserve, Chinese oil companies arrived, Nigerien soldiers were then sent into the reserve to protect the Chinese oil workers, the soldiers killed most of the last remaining Addax. The Niger government then chose to remove the Tin Touma Desert from the reserve, so that the oil would no longer be inside the reserve, they added an area of land onto the other side of the reserve, but this is not such good habitat for Addax and other desert wildlife. A very few individuals may survive on the Niger/Chad border.
In 2020 the Sahara Conservation Fund and Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, began the reintroduction of Addax to the Ouadi Rimé-Ouadi Achim Game Reserve in central Chad, where the species had become extinct. A good population of these critically endangered antelopes exists in captivity in zoos around the world, in Jan 2020 the first 15 animals were released in to the reserve. Further reintroductions and births has increased the population to 97 (at the time of my visit), still more animals will be reintroduced over the next few years, establishing a substantial wild population.
December 2023 update, the Sahara Conservation Fund in collaboration with African parks, have just moved 10 Addax from OROA to the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve that is managed by African Parks, where they have been released, more animals will be moved in the coming years, to establish a wild population of at least 500 Addax in Ennedi, the last Addax likely disappeared from Ennedi many decades ago. This if successful will mean that there will now be two wild populations of Addax in Chad, there is perfect habitat for them in Ennedi so they should thrive there.