Wildlife

Wild Saiga Antelope Conservation and Disease

Saiga antelopes have experienced catastrophic die-offs and population collapse from disease and hunting.

Key Facts

In 2015, 200,000 saigas (60% of the global population) died in 3 weeks from bacterial disease
Hunting for saiga horn drove populations from 1 million to under 50,000 by 2000
Populations have begun recovering in some areas through conservation efforts
Climate change may increase future mass mortality events

Welfare Considerations

The 2015 mass mortality event caused individual saiga deaths from haemorrhagic septicaemia — a rapid and likely extremely distressing death. Saigas in areas where hunting is uncontrolled experience predation by humans in addition to natural threats. Conservation programmes that address both hunting and disease risk directly improve individual saiga welfare and population survival prospects.

What You Can Do

Support Saiga Conservation Alliance programmes
Advocate against the saiga horn trade
Donate to saiga population monitoring and disease surveillance
Engage with Central Asian governments on saiga protection policy