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Saiga tatarica
– Critically Endangered
Taxonomy
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Kingdom:
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ANIMALIA
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Phylum:
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CHORDATA
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Class:
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MAMMALIA
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Order:
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ARTIODACTYLA
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Family:
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BOVIDAE
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Scientific Name:
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Saiga tatarica
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Species Authority:
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(Linnaeus, 1766)
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Infra-specific Taxa Assessed:
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See Saiga tatarica ssp. tatarica
See Saiga tatarica ssp. mongolica
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Common Name/s:
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| English | — | SAIGA ANTELOPE, SAIGA |
| French | — | SAÏGA |
| Spanish | — | ANTÍLOPE SAIGA, SAIGA |
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Taxonomic Notes:
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Most animals belong to the nominate subspecies; another distinctive subspecies occurs in a small area of western Mongolia.
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Assessment Information
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Red List Category & Criteria:
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CR A2a ver 3.1 (2001)
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Year Assessed:
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2003
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Assessor/s:
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Mallon, D.P.
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Evaluator/s:
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Milner-Gulland, E.J. & Mallon, D.P. (Antelope Red List Authority)
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Justification:
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The population has shown an observed decline of over 80% over the last 10 years and the decline is continuing. Severely skewed sex ratios are leading to reproductive collapse.
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History:
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| 1996 | - | Vulnerable (Baillie and Groombridge 1996) |
| 1999 | - | Lower Risk/conservation dependent (Hilton-Taylor 2000) |
| 2001 | - | Critically Endangered (IUCN 2002) |
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Geographic Range
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Range Description:
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Saiga tatarica inhabits the steppes and semi-desert regions of southeastern Europe and Central Asia from Ukraine to Mongolia. Currently found at one location in Russia and three areas in Kazakhstan. A distinctive subspecies occurs in Mongolia.
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Countries:
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Native:
Kazakhstan; Mongolia; Russian Federation; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan
Regionally extinct:
China; Ukraine
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Population
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Population:
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From information provided in recent references it appears that between 1991 and 1994, the global population of S. tatarica was relatively stable at just under one million animals, the majority of which were in Kazakhstan (approximately 810,00-825,000) (Bekenov et al. 1998, Lushchekina et al. 1999, Sokolov and Zhirnov 1998). Recent information from A.B. Bekenov and Iu. A. Grachev (in litt. to IUCN Species Survival Commission 1999) suggests that the population in Kazakhstan had fallen by spring 1998 to around 570,000 animals (a decline of ~30%).
The global population is now c.50,000, down from 1,250,000 in the mid-1970s. Most are found in Kazakhstan (decline from 1,000,000 to 30,000).
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Population Trend:
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Habitat and Ecology
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Habitat and Ecology:
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S. tatarica is a nomadic herding species that generally inhabits the open dry steppe grasslands and semi-arid deserts of Central Asia. Bekenov et al. (1998) described the typical habitat as flat open areas covered with low-growing vegetation, allowing animals to run quickly; areas of broken terrain or dense cover are generally avoided, but animals may stray into these out of necessity. Diet consists mostly of various grasses, herbs and shrubs (Nowak 1999).
S. tatarica is a migratory species with widely separated summer and winter ranges. It has a high rate of reproduction and recruitment. In years with a favourable climate the population can increase by up to 60% in a single year (Chan, et al. 1995). Very few animals in a population are more than 3.5 years old, indicating that the population is almost completely renewed after four years (Bekenov, et al. 1998). Known maximum longevity in the wild is 10 to 12 years (Nowak 1999). Adult males defend harems of females (a situation reversed in recent winters in Kalmykia).
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System:
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Terrestrial
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Threats
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Threats:
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Uncontrolled illegal hunting for horns (male horns are exported for the traditional Chinese medicine trade) and meat since the break-up of the former USSR has led to the catastrophic fall in numbers. Subsequent distortion of the sex ratio has affected reproduction: recent research shows that heavily skewed sex ratios are resulting in reproductive collapse (Milner-Gulland et al. 2003). There is also destruction of habitat in Russia (Kalmykia). Severe winters can cause mass mortality.
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Conservation Actions
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Conservation Actions:
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Legislation protecting saiga exists at national level but increased enforcement, and especially external funding for anti-poaching measures and linked rural development are urgently needed. Some protected areas exist within saiga range but distance between summer/winter ranges of the various populations hinders full protected area coverage. Some research is carried out on numbers, range and behaviour. International Workshop on Saiga Conservation was held in Kalmykia in May 2002.
"Other" conservation action needed is external funding to implement anti-poaching measures required.
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