MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR MEXICAN PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana mexicana) IN CHIHUAHUA, MÉXICO

Abstract

The Mexican pronghorn (Antilocapra americana mexicana) is the fastest land mammal in America and endemic to North America, and only live representative of the Antilocapridae family. Its abundance and distribution are affected by the reduction and alteration of their habitat, poaching and predation. Since it is in danger of extinction, the National Protected Natural Areas Commission (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, CONANP) has elaborated Action Programs for Species’ Conservation (Programas de Acción para la Conservación de Especies, PACE), and applied them in Chihuahua, México. After performing diagnostic work that included awareness such as Payment for Environmental Services derived from Biodiversity in Grasslands of the State of Chihuahua, which compensates owners of lands with grasslands for their actions for productive reconversion, conservation and/or habitat management for priority species (pronghorn, royal eagle, aplomado falcon) implemented on their lands, with the aim of maintaining and improving the conditions of the ecosystem where these wild animal species are distributed, it was determined that the pieces of land Carretas, El Vado, Santa Anita, La Enramada, El Ochentaicinco, and El Uno have habitat characteristics adequate for the pronghorn. The owners of these lands have expressed interest for the species, and they consider it timely to carry out the necessary efforts to recuperate the pronghorn populations in the area of Janos and that the possibility of reintroducing specimens from the United States is not against the conservation of the germplasm of the species, since there are individuals that move from one side to another between the two countries