The wild addax antelope (Addax nasomaculatus) is perhaps the loneliest mammal on the planet. These majestic, snow-white (in summer) antelope once roamed in abundance across North Africa but poaching and industrialisation pushed the wild population to the brink of extinction.

Why are addax antelopes endangered?

Conservation status

While hunting and removal of live addaxes is illegal in Niger, the animals have suffered "massive disturbance" from oil installations operated by the China National Petroleum Corporation, the report said. Also, soldiers assigned to protect the oil wells have been hunting and poaching addaxes.

Why is the addax population decreasing?

Oil operations in Niger, chiefly those of the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), have decimated the addax population, the IUCN said, mostly due to poaching by the military personnel hired to protect CNPC's operations.