Almost extinct Saiga antelopes remerge in Kazakhstan following conservation efforts

Marking a good news for environmentalists, a rare of antelope which was on brink of extinction has reemerged in Kazakhstan. population of Saiga has more than doubled since 2019 pushing its numbers from 334,000 to 842,000 just within two years. Since 2002, medium-sized hoofed mammal has been categorized as ‘critically endangered’ in IUCN list.

In 2015, several images of carcasses of se antelopes surfaced online, triggering apprehension of ir mass extinction. But soon, Kazakh government initiated several conservation measures to make sure species do not face extinction. local government ordered a complete ban on poaching and urged organisations to get involved in conservation work on national and international levels.

Twin birth every year

In dendum to ministrative efforts, species’ natural resilience also played a significant role in ir re-emergence. According to Albert Salemgareyev, expert at Association for Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK), Saigas give birth to twins every year, which contributed to ir species growing at an exacerbated pace.

“re are few truly vast wildernesses, like steppes of central Asia, left on planet. To know that saiga herds are still traversing m in ir thousands, as y have done since prehistoric times, is an encouraging thought for those of us who want those wildernesses to remain," David Gill, FFI senior programme manager for Central Asia told reporters. Apart from Kazakhstan, antelopes also inhabit Mongolia, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Last week, anor 'critically endangered' barking deer was spotted in Cambodia for first time. giant muntjac was captured on a hidden camera in norast Cambodia's Virachey National Park in Ratanakiri province, said   Environment ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra. 

giant muntjac, known by its scientific name Muntiacus vuquangensis, was captured by surveillance camera for first time in Virachey National Park in Ratanakkiri province. giant muntjac is on red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature as "critically endangered". pictures shared by Neth Pheaktra on Twitter show giant muntjac in Virachey National Park. picture also shows hidden camera installed by environment ministry.

Image: alfonslopeztena/Twitter