Animal: Pronghorn

Taxonomic Name: Antilocapra americana

Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List)  

Wild Range: Grasslands, steppes, foothills, and deserts in North America

Diet: Browse, flowering plants, grasses, and cacti

Longevity in the wild: 10 years

Size: 82–104 cm (height at the shoulder)

Weight: 40–65 kg 

Fun Fact: Reaching speeds up to 100 km/h, the pronghorn is the fastest land mammal in North America. Their ability to run at this speed likely evolved in response to a now-extinct predator from the last Ice Age, the North American cheetah.

APZ Location: Open Range

Conservation Story: Like other large grassland mammals, pronghorns were overhunted during the 19th century and experienced severe population declines until protection began in the mid-1900s. While populations are currently stable, Pronghorns are vulnerable to human-made barriers, such as fences and roads, that break up the continuous expanses of grassland they rely on.

Visit Tilly and Fernie the pronghorns on your next visit to the Zoo!