The Mexican pronghorn, scientifically known as Antilocapra americana, is one of the most emblematic animals of northern Mexico and North America. This unique mammal, which many consider the antelope of the New World, represents a true biological treasure due to its evolutionary history, adaptation to extreme environments, and its cultural importance to various Mexican communities. However, its future is in danger, facing challenges derived mainly from human activity and changes in the ecosystems they inhabit.
Despite conservation efforts in recent decades, the Mexican pronghorn remains in dangerIts recent history exemplifies the risks of habitat fragmentation, agricultural expansion, poaching, and other factors that threaten its survival. This article will address the current status of the species and the main obstacles it faces, drawing on up-to-date information and field experience.
Emergence and characteristics of the Mexican pronghorn
The pronghorn is the only living representative of the Antilocapridae family., giving it a unique evolutionary value. Its morphology and adaptations make it perfect for the arid and semi-arid landscapes of Mexico and North America. It is recognized for its slender figure, long, thin legs, reddish fur and a height close to one meter. In addition, it is one of the fastest land mammals on the planet, reaching great speeds to escape predators.
Its resistance to extreme conditions This makes the pronghorn stand out. It can go long periods without water, adapting to the aridity of the deserts and grasslands of the northern part of the country. Its diet includes a wide variety of plants, even those that are toxic to other species. Thanks to these adaptations, it has managed to survive for millennia in areas where water resources are scarce and temperatures are extreme.
Its presence in Mexican culture and art It is significant. There are cave paintings in the north of the country that reflect its importance as a national symbol and part of Mexico's natural heritage.
Historical populations and decline of the Mexican pronghorn
Before European colonization, The plains of North America were home to up to 50 million pronghornThis number began to decline rapidly in the 1924th century due to intensive hunting, the expansion of livestock farming, and changes in land use. By XNUMX, the Mexican government banned hunting, but the results were limited, and the population continued to decline.
During the 1970s and 1980s, censuses showed alarming population levels, with scattered and rapidly declining numbers. By the late 164s, the subspecies that inhabits Baja California, the peninsular pronghorn, had only XNUMX individuals. This critical situation led to its inclusion in the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010 , the in danger of extinction.
Currently, conservation efforts have achieved a slight recovery, although the number of copies is still very low compared to the past.
Main threats: causes that have brought the pronghorn to the brink of extinction
The decline of the Mexican pronghorn has been a consequence of a sum of environmental and human factorsAmong the most relevant causes are:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation: Agricultural growth, the expansion of farmland, and the presence of Mennonite communities and private enterprise have reduced the area of native grassland. This transformation of the landscape limits the space needed for pronghorn to live and breed.
- Livestock fences: Barbed fences hinder the animal's mobility. Pronghorn prefer to pass under wires, making them vulnerable to injury, entrapment, or death.
- Poaching: Although it has been banned for decades, cases of illegal hunting, motivated by ignorance or amusement, are still reported, placing additional pressure on its survival.
- Climate change: Altering rainfall and temperature patterns alters ecosystems. Drought, tree death, and water scarcity affect wildlife, livestock, and human communities.
- Decrease in genetic variability: The reduction in numbers has caused a loss of genetic diversity, decreasing their resistance to diseases and environmental changes.
These combined factors have placed the pronghorn in a critical situation, hindering its natural recovery and requiring the intervention of organizations and governments for its conservation. You can find more information about international policies and actions at the COP16 conference in Cali.
Recovery programs and conservation efforts
Faced with the decrease in specimens, they have been established important conservation programs, led by government entities, NGOs and landowners committed to biodiversity. It highlights the Species Conservation Action Program (PACE) of the peninsular pronghorn, started in 2009.
Thanks to these initiatives, the pronghorn population in Baja California has reached approximately 500 copies. Although still far from the figures of the past, it reflects a positive trendThis has been achieved with the commitment of landowners, protection funds, and improved environmental management strategies.
Environmental education and community participation have been crucial. People like the Ferreiro-Laphond family in Chihuahua have modified fences and promoted conservation, demonstrating that local involvement makes a difference.
Organizations such as PROFAUNA AC, IMC Vida Silvestre, and protected areas such as El Vizcaíno and Valle de los Cirios collaborate in monitoring, raising awareness, and managing resources.
Concrete actions have been implemented, such as replacing barbed wire fences with smooth wire fences, at a height that allows pronghorn to pass through and reduces fatal injuries.
Field experiences and cross-border collaboration
Pronghorn monitoring includes overflights and ground patrols, activities that allow us to locate herds, count individuals, and understand their movements. In Chihuahua, campaigns supported by international organizations such as LightHawk and the Whitley Fund for Nature have been essential in identifying critical areas and small groups, highlighting the need to strengthen protection efforts.
These flights also help identify obstacles that can be removed and foster close collaboration with ranchers, promoting real and sustainable solutions, where both sectors work together to ensure the survival of the pronghorn.
The creation of committees made up of livestock owners, who act in defense of the animal, has been key to involving communities in the protection of the pronghorn and promoting good practices in land management.
Current habitats: large reserves and connectivity challenges
Today, the habitat of the Mexican pronghorn is limited to protected areas such as the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve and the Valle de los Cirios Flora and Fauna Protection Area in Baja California, as well as some properties in Chihuahua thanks to the commitment of their owners. However, the habitat fragmentation remains a major challenge, affecting the movement and genetic diversity of populations.
To overcome this situation, work is being done to create biological corridors connecting different protected areas and reducing physical barriers through joint actions with landowners. Constant monitoring allows for strategies to be adjusted and innovative solutions developed, such as additional water sources and collaborative rangeland management.
Biology, reproduction and adaptations of the Mexican pronghorn
The pronghorn stands out for its ability to adapt to arid environments. Has developed survival strategies such as:
- Flexible diet: It includes various plants, many of them rarely consumed by other herbivores.
- Energy economy: Reduce activity and consumption during adverse times to save resources.
- Synchronized playback: The breeding period varies regionally; in Baja California, it occurs in June and July, so that the young are born during favorable times.
- Speed and Agility: It can reach speeds of over 80 km/h, which is its best defense against predators, although artificial barriers still pose a problem.
These adaptations have been vital to their survival, although environmental and human changes continue to put their existence at risk.
Future challenges and urgent needs for conservation
Despite progress, the pronghorn population remains highly vulnerable. Although there has been a recovery trend, numbers have not yet reached levels that ensure their long-term survival, especially considering the low genetic diversity and limited capacity to adapt to new challenges.
Among the main challenges are:
- Restore and connect habitats: Facilitate movement and improve genetic diversity between populations.
- Expand educational and awareness programs: Involve more communities in protection actions.
- Ensure sustainable financing: To maintain and expand effective actions, such as fence modification and monitoring.
- Promote research: About their biology and ecological needs, to adapt conservation strategies to changes such as climate change.
A key action is to strengthen collaboration between the public sector, civil society organizations, and the private sector, as well as to involve landowners in protection measures. You can learn more about this at the impact of pollution on ecosystems.
