Saiga Antelope

• 14 Dec 2023

Source: DTE

Why in News?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List has recently reclassified the status of the Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica) from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened.

• This significant update reflects positive conservation efforts and offers a hopeful outlook for the survival of the Saiga antelope species.

What are the Key Facts about Saiga Antelope?

• About:
  • The saiga antelope is a large, nomadic, migratory herbivore that lives across the Eurasian Steppe.
    • It's found in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • It belongs to the family of Bovidae(order Artiodactyla).
  • The Saiga has two subspecies: Saiga tatarica tatarica (found in most of the range) and Saiga tatarica mongolica (found only in Mongolia).
  • Typical habitat consists of flat open areas covered with low-growing vegetation, allowing animals to run quickly.
  • They have an unusual hanging nose, which makes them look like a camel, although they are goat-sized, and male saigas have horns.

• Decline in Saiga Population:
  • The Saiga, which has roamed the earth since the last Ice Age, faced a drastic decline in its population by more than 95% within a decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
  • The decline was primarily due to poaching for the species' meat and horn. The horn is used in Chinese Traditional Medicine.
  • In 2015, a major epidemic killed more than 200,000 animals, which was a blow to the species' promising recovery.
• Conservation:
  • Conservation efforts have led to a positive change in the global Red List status of the Saiga antelope.
    • Kazakhstan has shown commendable leadership in species recovery, implementing anti-poaching initiatives, law enforcement measures, and establishing State Protected Areas.
    • The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) has facilitated cooperation among governments and civil society organizations for the conservation of the Saiga antelope.
  • The Saiga antelope population has soared to over 1.9 million, with the Mongolian subspecies witnessing a notable increase, reaching 15,540 individuals in the 2023 census.
• Ongoing Challenges:
  • Poaching, illegal trade, disease, climate change, disturbance, and infrastructure development continue to pose challenges.