Three female addax calves have been born at Brookfield Zoo within the last two months, with one more expected to arrive by the end of the summer.
The most recent addax antelope was born this past Saturday on July 9, and the other two addax were born on May 30 and June 1.
The addax is an endangered antelope species native to Africa. The Chicago Zoological Society has aided efforts to breed the addax to maintain a healthy, self-sustaining population in accordance with the Association of Zoo and Aquariums' Addax Species Survival Plan. There are currently 159 addax in various zoos across North America.
Fewer than 300 individuals remain in the wild, and the current population is restricted to a narrow band of desert between eastern Niger and western Chad. Over-hunting since the mid-1800s in North Africa has contributed to the decline of its population.
Brookfield Zoo has exhibited addax since 1935 and was the first zoo in North America to have an addax birth. Since it's first breeding pair in 1935, Brookfield Zoo has hosted 140 addax births.
The newborn addax and their mothers are currently on exhibit at their outdoor habitat on the north side of the zoo.