Disney celebrates Mother’s Day with the birth of Julien, a rare critically endangered addax. Julien is the first calf for his mother, Juniper, and will soon join the herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort.
Fewer than 100 of these animals remain in the wild, facing possible extinction, while just over 180 are under managed care across all organizations accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
The birth of Julien marks a significant victory for the species and the dedicated team of veterinarians and animal keepers at Disney, who are thrilled to welcome another addax into the world. It underscores these animals’ crucial role in the wild and serves as a testament to the exceptional level of care provided to all our animals.
The critically endangered addax is an antelope species recognized for its distinctive curly horns, which calves are born with. These antelopes are exceptionally rare, with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge being one of the few places worldwide where they can be observed outside of the Saharan desert in Africa.
