The Exposed Saiga Buck States Saiga Had Seen A Dramatic Turnaround In Fate.
The population of one species of rare antelopes has more than doubled in numbers since 2019, which is a remarkable turn of fortune. According to the first aerial examination in two years, the number of saigas in the heart of Kazakhstan has increased from 334,000 to 842,000.
There are concerns that the animal is in danger of becoming extinct after the mass extinction in 2015. However, the gruesome images of corpses scattered across the meadows earned them the title of world champion.
After a series of conservation efforts, including government repression of poaching and local and international conservation activities, their numbers increased. This, together with the species' natural resilience, gives hope for its future, says Albert Salemgariev of the Kazakh Biodiversity Conservation Association (ACBK).
"They give birth to doubles every year, which offers great potential for a speedy recovery of the species," he told News. Media caption Saiga antelope: Ice Age survivors are in danger now Saiga had seen a dramatic turnaround in fate.
But even with the current boom, their numbers will never again reach the millions estimated in Soviet times because of looming threats, including the impact of government infrastructure projects and oil and gas extraction, Albert Salemgariev said.
The latest poll, conducted in April, showed a sharp increase in total numbers, and those specific populations in Ustyurt, in the south of the country have recovered dramatically. In 2015 just over 1,000 animals remained in the area, but this year's census rose sharply to 12,000.
The last desert
British non-profit organization Fauna & Flora International, is committed to protecting the Ustyurt population by forming a new team of rangers against poaching and monitoring of saiga movement using satellite collars.
David Gill, FFI's Senior Program Manager for Central Asia, said the new census is the best evidence that decades of efforts to protect Saiga are paying off. However, he cautioned against complacency, saying the Saiga migrated over large areas, so future development and infrastructure projects that could fragment their habitat would remain a problem.