Saiga Antelope–Learn more at Wildlife Conservation Network (2023)

Women are a powerful voice in the household, and if they see the benefits of saigas as part of their culture, they will tell their sons and husbands not to poach and they themselves will not buy saiga meat.

Elena Bykova

Addressing Supply & Demand

All international trade in saiga antelope is prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). SCA works to address both the supply and the demand for saiga products, because they believe if attention remains solely on the supply-side of an unsustainable or illegal wildlife trade, then the root of the problem, consumer demand, will still drive illegal markets and poaching.

Resurrection Island Project

The Aral Sea is a former salt lake, which has become the symbol of environmental catastrophe in the 20th century due to unsustainable water use for agriculture. Although its drying up was catastrophic for local communities and biodiversity, some wildlife still remains. SCA hopes to restore saiga populations in the area and preserve the unique flora and fauna through their “Resurrection Island” project.

Tracking Saiga from All Angles

For years, SCA has been leading research on-the-ground about the ecology and conservation of the saiga antelope, but they are now also collaborating with the ICARUS Project (International Cooperation for Animal Research Using Space) to monitor saiga migrations from space to better identify critical habitat and corridors using satellite transmitters.

Wildlife Steppe Clubs

SCA set up Wildlife Steppe Clubs in Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan to inspire students to better understand their natural history. For generations, Steppe communities had been accustomed to herds of saigas grazing alongside them, but that is no longer common due to population decline. These educational clubs take part in annual Saiga Day celebrations, theatrical performances, gardening, sporting events, and kid camps to learn more about the species.

Kuralai Alternative Livelihood Project

The Kuralai Alternative Livelihood project in Uzbekistan celebrates local women who are creating beautiful traditionally embroidered bags to help save saigas. Kuralai means ‘baby saiga’ in Uzbek. This embroidery project gives women the opportunity to learn new skills in sewing as well as business and marketing, empowering women in the region to have an alternative source of income and decrease the demand for saiga poaching.

Stop Illegal Wildlife Trade

SCA is contracted by the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (also known as CMS or Bonn Convention) to monitor the progress of saiga conservation, restoration, and sustainable use. CMS is an intergovernmental treaty governed under the United Nations’ Environment Program, focused on global conservation of wildlife, so SCA provides frequent data, images, and videos to them on the saiga’s status.

Saiga Day Celebration

SCA started Saiga Day, which is celebrated internationally among rural communities to take pride in their natural heritage and conservation of the saiga. The festivities take place each spring to mark the birth of the first saiga calves of the year, and is a celebration of life which unites communities across the saiga’s range under a common symbol.