Pronghorns are the fastest land animals over a sustained distance in North America reaching 55 mph for 1/2 mile. Only the springbok gazelle in Africa can reach that speed making them a real challenge for predators like the cheetah clocked at speeds of up to 75 mph.

Here at the Zoo we have critically endangered peninsular pronghorns. To help save this species the Zoo has been supporting conservation efforts at the El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve and the Valle de los Cirios ecological reserves in Mexico. The main objective of the Peninsular Pronghorn Recovery Project to restore and conserve the coastal plain desert ecosystem by reintroducing the peninsular pronghorn to its historic distribution area. 

Over the past ten years over 30 pronghorn fawns have been born at the Zoo including 8 in 2024. Watch for them early in the morning when you visit our Chihuahuan Desert Exhibit. After their fun time in the early morning, they take long naps.

Photos

Cover and Top – Sarah Richter, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Feature – Ar Nature Gal