Elista, 10 May 2002. Ninety international experts met in Elista, Russian Federation, at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Kalmykia, for a 5-day workshop (5-10 May 2002) that considered a draft Memorandum of Understanding and Action Plan to conserve the remaining populations of Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica tatarica) in the Eurasian steppe. The meeting was co-sponsored by CMS.

Despite the species listing on CITES Appendix II, the number of Saiga Antelopes have dwindled in Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan primarily from poaching to supply male horns to Asian markets for medical use.

Arnulf Mueller-Helmbrecht, CMS Executive Secretary (pictured in the steppe with the Prime Minister of Kalmykia), and Lyle Glowka, Agreements Officer, attended the meeting.