Pronghorns are the fastest land animals in the Western Hemisphere and the only surviving member of their family. Zoo programs support conservation of fragmented populations.
Pronghorns are extreme athletes with behavioral needs for vast space and high-speed locomotion. Zoo enclosures rarely approach the space needed for natural behavior, making welfare dependent on enrichment quality and exhibit size. They are highly vigilant animals that experience chronic stress in noisy, busy zoo environments without adequate sight lines and retreat space. Captive breeding programs for endangered subspecies must balance welfare compromise against conservation necessity. Supplemental food must mimic their complex natural diet of forbs and shrubs.