Knowra Saiga antelope Saiga antelope The saiga is a Eurasian antelope, Saiga tatarica, recognized by its bulbous, downward-pointing nose. Its herds migrate across open steppe and semi-desert.
Saiga nose : The saiga’s enlarged, flexible nose filters dust and helps warm or cool inhaled air. Its distinctive structure conditions air in the dusty, temperature-extreme steppe.
Saiga mass mortality events : Episodes in which large numbers of saigas die over a short period, often following bacterial disease outbreaks. The 2015 event showed how quickly a herd-wide die-off can unfold.
Saiga fossil record : Fossil evidence documenting the past distribution and evolutionary history of saigas and their relatives. Fossils show saiga-like animals once ranged far beyond their modern strongholds.
Saiga Conservation Alliance : An international network supporting research and conservation of saigas and their steppe habitats. It coordinates field research, community work, and conservation across saiga range.
IUCN Red List : A global assessment system that classifies species’ extinction risk using standardized criteria. It classifies the saiga as Critically Endangered.
Steppe : A temperate grassland ecosystem with few trees, found across Eurasia and other continents. Saigas depend on steppe vegetation and wide, open terrain.
Pasteurella multocida : A bacterium that can cause disease in animals and humans, including hemorrhagic septicemia in ungulates. It was associated with the catastrophic 2015 saiga die-off.
Saiga tatarica : The scientific name of the saiga species, a migratory antelope native to Eurasia. This is the species name behind the common name and conservation assessments.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species : An international agreement regulating trade in wild animals and plants to prevent threats to their survival. Trade controls address demand for saiga horns and other animal products.
Poaching : The illegal hunting, capture, or collection of wildlife in violation of conservation laws. Poaching for horns has contributed to sharp declines, especially among males.
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