Migratory Hooved Mammals Face Higher Extinction Risk Over 100,000 Years, Study Finds

A new study published in PLOS Biology reveals that migratory hooved mammals, such as wildebeest and caribou, have faced a higher extinction rate over the past 100,000 years compared to their nonmigratory relatives. Led by Joel Abraham at Princeton University, the research analyzed fossil records and modern data to compare extinction patterns between species that undertake long-distance seasonal movements and those that remain in one area year-round. The findings suggest that the very behavior of migration—while often an adaptation to track resources—may expose species to greater risks, including habitat fragmentation, hunting pressures, and climate variability. As human activities continue to disrupt ancient migration corridors through infrastructure, agriculture, and urban development, these already vulnerable species could face even steeper declines. The study underscores the urgent need for conservation strategies that protect not just the animals themselves but the critical routes they depend on for survival. Without such efforts, more of the world’s great migrations may vanish within our lifetime.