A critically endangered addax calf has been born at Marwell Zoo in Hampshire. The calf's parents, Amelie and Tamerisk, have previously had three male calves together, and zoo keepers have confirmed that this latest addition is also male. The young addax, who has already been seen exploring the paddock with his parents, is reportedly thriving and growing more confident each day. Zoe Newnham, senior animal keeper for hoofstock, shared: “The new addax calf was born to mum Amelie and dad Tamerisk and is their 4th calf together. “He is doing really well and is very confident and inquisitive, and a great addition to our herd here at Marwell. “The conservation of addax is especially important as the species is listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with only 30-90 mature individuals left in the wild. “Marwell works with addax both in the wild, and here at the zoo by being part of the European Endangered Species Programme breeding programme, which our calf is now the newest member of!” Female addax have a pregnancy lasting eight to nine months, after which they give birth to a single calf. Typically, the calf is hidden in vegetation while the mother grazes with the herd, returning to feed the calf as needed. With an estimated 30 to 90 mature addax remaining in the wild, the birth of this calf is considered a significant event for the species. Once widespread across the Sahelo-Saharan region of Africa, addax are now confined to a small area in Niger, and their population continues to decline. The IUCN Red List warns that “the species is at serious risk of becoming extinct in the wild” due to factors such as hunting, drought, farming pressures, and oil exploration. Adapted to hot, dry environments, addax have a pale coat to reflect heat and large hooves that help them navigate sandy habitats. Marwell is one of only three zoos in the UK housing addax, and it also manages protected areas in Tunisia where addax have been reintroduced. The calf's birth is one of several recent arrivals at the zoo, including a male Rothschild’s giraffe, a female Grevy’s zebra, a male mountain bongo, and a female sitatunga. When: 20 Sep 2024 Credit: Marwell Zoo/Cover Images **EDITORIAL USE ONLY. MATERIALS ONLY TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH EDITORIAL STORY. THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS FOR ADVERTISING, MARKETING OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. MATERIAL COPYRIGHT REMAINS WITH STATED PHOTOGRAPHER AND/OR SUPPLIER.**