
Why are these horned ants so rare?
- August 1, 2021
On Monday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it was removing the horned horned, white antelope species from its endangered species list because of their low population.
The move came as the agency’s board of commissioners approved a conservation plan that would remove the horns, known for their ability to withstand predation and to feed on insects, in an effort to reduce the antelope’s impact on other species.
The antelope is the only horned species that has never been listed as endangered, though other horned or white antelopes have been found in areas of western and central Mexico.
In the past, horned and white antels have coexisted in a symbiotic relationship that has allowed them to adapt to a variety of environmental changes, including deforestation and urbanization.
They have also provided food for wildlife and people, and provided a source of protein for some species, like the black bear.
The species is also threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation and fragmentation due to logging, farming and other human activities, the Fish and Game Service said in a statement.