Saiga antelopes have suffered catastrophic mass mortality events caused by disease and climate stress. Understanding their welfare needs is critical for recovery of this ancient steppe species.
The 2015 saiga mass mortality event was one of the most dramatic wildlife welfare disasters on record. Animals died rapidly from haemorrhagic septicaemia, exhibiting neurological signs and bleeding from orifices. Climate modelling indicates that warming temperatures will make such events more likely and more frequent, representing an existential welfare threat to the species. Survivors of disease events may experience prolonged physiological stress. Poaching for horns causes acute welfare harms through injury and distress. Conservation measures including anti-poaching patrols, veterinary monitoring, and international collaboration have supported population recovery. Long-term welfare requires addressing climate change to reduce disease outbreak risk across the Eurasian steppe.