Wild mammals
African antelopes could expand across US West
A new study warns that gemsbok introduced to New Mexico could spread to several western states as warming creates continuous desert habitats.
Reported by Phys.org · · 1 min read
Gemsbok, an African antelope species introduced to New Mexico decades ago as game animals, could dramatically widen their range across the western United States by the end of the century, according to research published in the Journal of Mammalogy.
Originally native to the arid Kalahari Desert, the large antelopes have already expanded dozens of miles past their initial release points. Scientists from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign modeled potential future ranges based on climate projections and community sightings collected through biodiversity databases. Their findings indicate that favorable conditions for the antelopes may eventually extend across Texas, Arizona, Utah, and California, and potentially reach northward into parts of Washington and Montana.
Researchers noted that fragmented areas of dry terrain are projected to merge into continuous corridors under future climate conditions. Such connections would eliminate existing physical barriers, allowing gemsbok to move freely into previously unoccupied landscapes, including Death Valley and western Texas.
Competition with native species and cattle
Weighing over 400 pounds, gemsbok have several evolutionary strengths that give them an edge over native American wildlife. They extract required moisture directly from desert plants rather than relying on drinking water, and they face few natural threats because regional predators such as mountain lions and coyotes rarely target them compared to African carnivores.
Because their diet overlaps with livestock and native grazers like bison and pronghorn, expanding herds could quickly deplete sparse desert food supplies during dry periods. Gemsbok can also sustain themselves on fibrous, nutrient-poor plants that other animals cannot easily digest, allowing them to remain on parched rangelands where cattle must be removed.
Scientists also warned that the non-native antelopes could act as vectors for livestock illnesses. Southwest gemsbok populations have already tested positive for respiratory viruses and malignant catarrhal fever. Researchers emphasized that balancing wildlife management, ranching needs, and hunting interests will be vital to prevent wide-scale ecological harm across the region.
