CWA has an education center, which is key in helping local children (and adults) appreciate and protect this native antelope. Although protective legislation has existed in many of these countries for several years, efforts are currently underway to improve law enforcement, and support rural economies. Conservationists have solved a mystery that has bedeviled them for serveral years: what caused the mass die-off of hundreds of thousands of critically endangered saiga antelope in Central Asia. In addition to the obvious depletion in numbers, the hunting of male saiga for their horns leads to highly skewed population structures. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2018/01/saiga-antelope-killed-bacteria-2015-mass-die-off-central-asia-spd.html, large chambers inside the animal's proboscis, the trunk aids in communication and choosing mates, advertise body size and help males woo females, This story draws from a previous piece by Jason Bittel. Males are poached so their horns can be ground up and used in Asian folk remedies. Unfortunately for the saiga, the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s had a disastrous impact on the rural economies of all the countries in which it is found. For much of the 20th Century, good populations were found in Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and sometimes Turkmenistan. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. It feeds on various grasses, onions, shrubs and other desert plants. The high reproductive potential of the species (females reach sexual maturity at less than a year and generally give birth to twins) meant  that populations could tolerate a certain level of hunting. *Saiga horns are also known as ling yang (羚羊) and used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since 2006, the Saiga Conservation Alliance has been working with the Convention on Migratory Species. The high reproductive potential of the species (females reach sexual maturity at less than a year and generally give birth to twins) meant  that populations could tolerate a certain level of hunting. The Saiga Antelope was added to the IUCN’s Red List as ‘Critically Endangered’ in 2001. Signs Widespread unemployment and poverty lead to increased hunting for food, and for trade. Conservation organizations are reporting positive impacts from their work in some areas, however it is clear that more needs to be done, across the species’ whole range. As of 2010, the global population is thought to be around 50,000 individuals, mostly in Kazakhastan. History San Diego Zoo Global provides funds for vehicles and gasoline, as well as spotting scopes, so the rangers can effectively patrol and watch over the herds. This story draws from a previous piece by Jason Bittel. TEAMWORK China has a huge appetite for saiga horn, for traditional medicine. In May 2015, when the saiga gathered to give birth, about 200,000 perished from a usually harmless bacterium. Reports from the 19th Century describe huge herds covering the whole steppe. The antelope move north once again in April. Now We Know Why. The hardy antelope with the tiny tail and bulbous nose was—and is—in dire straits! With kind thanks to San Diego Zoo for allowing us to reproduce their article, originally published here.

Copyright 2007-2020 by Wildlife Conservation Society. As of 2010, the global population is thought to be around 50,000 individuals, mostly in Kazakhastan.

More than 200,000 saiga antelope perished during the mass die-off in Kazakhstan, the bodies of adults and calves dotting the grasslands for miles. This change of nose configuration includes dorsal folding and convex curving of the nasal vestibulum and is maintained until the roar ends. They are found mostly within protected areas in remote south-western Mongolia – Govi Altai and Hovd Aimags (provinces), and until 1960 were also found in China. China has a huge appetite for saiga horn, for traditional medicine. Because this year has been a year like no other, Meet The Conservationist Saving The Fast Disappearing Saiga Antelope In Uzbekistan, Update on the “airсraft attack” on saigas. (Also see "5 Animals With Weird Noses."). © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- They are vulnerable to extinction because the horns are used in Chinese medicine, even though there have been laws against hunting them for a long time. They seasonally migrate large distances throughout the year, in search of good pasture and sources of water. Widespread unemployment and poverty lead to increased hunting for food, and for trade. The Mongolian population is found in two remote areas of western Mongolia, mostly within the Sharga Nature Reserve, and Mankhan Nature Reserve (both designated in 1993). Prior to roaring, they tense and extend their noses in a highly stereotypic manner. Hair and small piles of spherical black droppings may be found in pasture. Dating back at least as far as the last ice age, saiga antelopes once ranged across almost the whole of Asia and Europe. Rangers based at the Stepnoi Reserve fearlessly protect the saiga from poachers, and thanks to their commitment, the wild herd has increased from about 2,000 animals to 4,500 animals in just a few years. They seasonally migrate large distances throughout the year, in search of good pasture and sources of water. Dating back at least as far as the last ice age, saiga antelopes once ranged across almost the whole of Asia and Europe.

Reports from the 19th Century describe huge herds covering the whole steppe.