Saiga Antelope Reclassified from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened on IUCN Red List
The Saiga Antelope Status Moves from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced the change in status of the Saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) in their Red List from critically endangered to near threatened on Dec. 11. This news marks a significant success in conservation efforts, particularly in Kazakhstan, where the saiga population has grown from a critically low estimate of 48,000 in 2005 to over 1.9 million today.
This shift in the species’ global Red List status reflects the tireless efforts of numerous organizations and governments, including the Saiga Conservation Alliance, the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the World Wildlife Fund Mongolia.
The Kazakh government has played a crucial role in this recovery, implementing impactful actions such as anti-poaching initiatives, robust law enforcement, and establishing protected areas. Such success highlights the importance of international cooperation in the conservation of migratory species, as emphasized by Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) of Wild Animals.
Despite this positive shift in status, ongoing conservation efforts are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainable future of the Saiga antelope in Kazakhstan and recovery in other range states such as Mongolia, Russia, and Uzbekistan. In these countries, smaller populations still face threats such as poaching, illegal trade, disease, climate change, and habitat fragmentation.
While the saiga population in Russia has improved to 38,000, up from 4,500 in 2016, Uzbekistan hosts an estimated 500 saiga, with further efforts needed to mitigate the impact of human-made barriers on their migratory routes. In Mongolia, a recent census reported a population of 15,540 saigas, with no reported instances of poaching since 2018.
The increase in the saiga population in Kazakhstan serves as a beacon of hope, according to Elena Bykova, head of the Laboratory of the Endangered Species at the Institute of Zoology in Uzbekistan. However, she emphasizes the need to recognize the varying conservation status of the species across its range and the importance of learning from successes in different countries.
Ultimately, the full recovery of the species will require comprehensive efforts to address threats and restore the saiga’s role in the ecosystem across its entire range. This positive change in status should serve as a reminder of the benefits of conservation efforts and the collective action needed to protect species at risk.
