Endangered antelopes settle at Orana
They have comb-overs reminiscent of Donald Trump and corkscrew horns that could impale a human, but their keepers think they’re beautiful.
Orana Wildlife Park’s newest arrivals – four critically endangered Addax antelopes – were unveiled yesterday. Clambering out from behind a fence, the group were quickly ambling around their sun-soaked enclosure opposite the Great Apes display and munching on grass.
The occasion was the culmination of months of organising, transporting three captive-bred females from their home at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, in New South Wales, and one male, Marrakesh, from Victoria.
Marrakesh first meet the girls last week and was settling in well to his new bachelor life, exotic species manager Jenny Bowles said. ‘‘He’s been romancing all round . . . he’s been stoked. He initially only found the two girls and then the third girl came through and he had to double take, he was a lucky boy.’’
Each of the antelopes’ horns is about one metre long. They have distinctive facial markings and a ‘‘Donald Trump style comb-over’’.
‘‘Once you see it, you can’t unsee it,’’ Bowles said.
It’s thought to be the first time Addax have been held in New Zealand. One of the world’s rarest antelopes, the breed is on the verge of extinction with only 100 thought to live in the wild in Niger, in northwest Africa.
However, on an aerial survey in
2016, surveyors could only find three, so it’s possible the numbers are even lower, Bowles said. About
800 were held in zoos and a further
5000 in ranches in America and the Middle East.
‘‘As [people] go hunting for oil, and the miliary goes with them . . . they are unfortunately wiping these guys out at quite a rapid rate, as well as opportunistic hunting. Someone wants trophy horns or a skin, it’s a huge shame.’’
The new attractions were well receivedby a visiting school holiday programme.
‘‘Look, it’s the reindeer,’’ one youngster proudly proclaimed to the group.
Orana Park marketing manager Nathan Hawke said it was difficult for the public to get excited about lesser-known species, but the antelopes likeness to a reindeer could be a fun drawcard at Christmas.
Putting them near the prized gorilla enclosure, the park’s biggest attraction, would also help give them the exposure they deserved.
Bowles said despite their grumpy reputation, the group were ‘‘very chilled out’’.
‘‘They’re very laid back. When we first arrived with them we weren’t quite sure what to expect. They can be quite stand-offish and they’ve got those horns and know how to use them [but] they’re a very soft muzzle, they like to hand feed and come right up to the fence. They get on like a house [on fire].’’