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Plight of the Pronghorn
By Jeff Holland, Curator of Mammals
One of the most endangered mammalian species in Mexico is making its last stand in the harsh environment of the Vizcaino Desert. The peninsular pronghorn (Antilocapra americana peninsularis) once numbered in the thousands and roamed an extensive area of the peninsula from San Felipe in the north to Magdalena Bay in the south. Today the pronghorn are restricted to a remote corner on the western edge of the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve and number no more than 150 to 200 individuals. Hunting, agriculture, and cattle ranching have led to the quick demise of the species.
Thanks to the foresight of a few dedicated individuals, a conservation program was initiated to save the last remaining peninsular pronghorn in Mexico. A captive breeding facility was established in 1998 within the reserve in order to propagate the pronghorn in a semi-captive environment. The captive breeding of the pronghorn has two primary purposes: to increase the number of peninsular pronghorn so as to ensure the survival of the species, and to reintroduce pronghorn from the captive herds back to the wild where they once occurred. Today the captive herd of peninsular pronghorn has increased to 198 animals setting the stage for the first reintroduction of peninsular pronghorn back to the wild.
Since 2000 the Los Angeles Zoo has been assisting the Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve in their efforts to save the peninsular pronghorn. In addition the veterinary staff from Disney’s Animal Kingdom has provided the veterinary medical assistance to the program since 2001. The Oregon Zoo has also been a financial contributor since 2001, and the Living Desert has recently joined the program, providing financial and veterinary support. The culmination of seven years of hard work by all institutions involved was finally realized in February 2006 with the release of 25 peninsular pronghorn back to the wild. This operation required the coordinated efforts of over 30 staff members from institutions in two different countries. This monumental undertaking was successful due to the dedication and hard work of all involved.
In July 2006, the Zoo received four peninsular pronghorn fawns from the breeding center in Mexico, with plans to receive additional fawns over the next four years. Establishing a population outside the breeding center serves as a safeguard against natural disasters and disease, which could wipe out the remaining wild animals. In such a dire circumstance, populations established outside Mexico would be used to repopulate the species.
Due to these efforts the peninsular pronghorn has been assured at least a fighting chance to re-establish itself in the Vizcaino desert—and hopefully in the rest of the peninsula where it once occurred.
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