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Native or Imported By: Henry Bynum An indigenous animal means one living where it originated, such as the nilgai being native to India. In Texas, nilgai are considered exotic or imported. The climates of the two places are very similar, so they survive, breed, and spread better in Texas than in India. This is primarily due to habitat. Predators, human encroachment, and poaching have reduced the number of nilgai in India. In Texas, the nilgai are on large ranches and are hunted for sport and meat. This hunting is closely controlled, and the nilgai continue to multiply. Some of the foreign species are dangerous and out of control such as the boa constrictors, pythons, snakehead fish, etc. The Russian boars have gotten loose and cross bred with our feral hogs and are now a huge problem throughout the United States. Other countries also have exotics. New Zealand had no native animals. Years ago they imported the tahr sheep, chamois, red deer, etc. This is a big business for many people now in New Zealand. South America has imported red deer, blackbuck, fallow deer, and other animals, and they are doing well there. You can find lots of Texas Rio Grande turkeys in Hawaii. Hawaii also has a problem with feral hogs. I trophy hunt and like to hunt indigenous animals, but this is not always possible. If you want a simatar horn oryx animal, which is native to North Africa, you will have to hunt him in Texas or another southern state that has imports. They have pretty well been eliminated in North Africa for meat to feed an ever growing population. Zoos throughout the world have some of the few remaining species of different animals. There are animals that have been eliminated and are now being re-introduced from other places. These include bighorn sheep and wolves. The American buffalo was almost wiped out but now number in the thousands. Most are held on private ranches or game preserves. In Kingsville, you may see squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and javelina. Within ten miles you can also see feral hogs, deer, buffalo, kudu, nilgai, impalas, and blackbuck. There are also several alligators and rattlesnakes within ten miles of Kingsville. Get out and explore. Just be observant and wear your boots.
Happy hunting,
Henry
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