Addax facing imminent extinction in the wild:

Panthera1981 said:
Wow! Didn't see this one coming!

Hopefully an antelope species that does well in captivity?
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Well, the IUCN has listed it as critically endangered since 2000, and there were already thought to be fewer than 200 left, so it's not entirely surprising. But yes, a species that does breed well in captivity. Not sure about the viability of captive-born animals for reintroduction programs anytime soon though.
 
there's an earlier article here (from before this most recent survey) with some more information on the precipitous decline and the immediate threats: Poachers Went After This Amazing Antelope for Fun

There are thousands of addax in captivity, and there could be reintroduction programmes as happened with scimitar-horned oryx, but at the moment there is little point in doing so because they would just be shot.
 
And yet one has to wonder how long they can be absent from functional areas of habitat before the habitat itself starts to change and potentially suffer as a result. It might well be that they have to reintroduce to keep the species part of the system even if its an uphill battle against poachers. At least if they've got a huge stock of captive then it shouldn't be too hard to source individuals for release; though moral destroying if the poaching issue can't be dealt with.
 
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