Feds plan new endangered pronghorn site in western Arizona’s Kofa National Wildlife Refuge

New endangered pronghorn site eyed in Arizona

PHOENIX — A handful of endangered Sonoran pronghorns could be moved to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in western Arizona next winter under a new federal recovery plan.

The proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is part of an effort to bring back a thriving population of the antelope-like creature.

Only about 70 to 90 of the animals now live in the wild in the U.S. Most are in or near southern Arizona’s Cabeza Prieta (cah-BAY’-zah pree-EH’-tah) National Wildlife Refuge, about 130 miles west of Tucson. Another 40 or so are in a captive breeding program, and about 400 live in northern Mexico.

About a dozen captive-bred pronghorns would be released next winter and up to 20 a year thereafter. A second new release site is planned southeast of Gila Bend.