Press releases

New International Conservation Actions Agreed for Saiga Antelopes

Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, and Uzbekistan agreed on new joint conservation measures to conserve the Saiga Antelope under the United Nations’ Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). For the next five years, the international Work Programme for the Saiga Antelope will provide a new framework to conserve and sustainably use the species throughout its migratory range.

27 October 2021

New Atlas Helps Remove Barriers to Animal Migration in Central Asia

The UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) has launched the Central Asian Mammals Migration and Linear Infrastructure Atlas to help ensure the survival of migratory wildlife in this important region. Featured in the Atlas are the Asiatic Cheetah, the Snow Leopard, as well as antelopes, deer, gazelles, wild horses and yaks which undertake long-distance journeys across the steppes, deserts and mountains of Central Asia to reach their feeding and breeding grounds.

04 December 2019

First Central Asian Migration Atlas Created to Reduce Harm to Wildlife from Infrastructure

Vilm, Germany (May 4, 2017)– Experts have for the first time mapped the distribution and movement corridors of migratory mammals in combination with threats from linear infrastructure, such as railways, roads, pipelines, and border fences, across the entire Central Asian region.

04 May 2017

Signs of Hope for Saiga Antelope after Mass Die-off in 2015

In May 2015, a catastrophic and unprecedented mass die-off caused by a bacterial infection wiped out more than 200,000 saiga antelopes within a few weeks. The Betpak-Dala saiga population in central Kazakhstan lost almost 90 per cent of its animals, which is equivalent to over 60 per cent of the global population, leaving the species in a critical situation. A new census data shows an increase of saiga numbers in all three populations within Kazakhstan, the antelope’s main Range State.

15 June 2016

Countries Agree on Actions to Help Save Saiga Antelopes

Saiga Range Countries and Experts Convene in Tashkent Following Saiga Mass Mortality Event

03 November 2015

Safe Passage for Mongolian Wildlife

Representatives of governments, industry, development banks, UN agencies, NGOs and scientists met in Ulaanbaatar from 24 to 28 August to find solutions to ensure that steppe animals are able to cross roads, railways and fences. The growing exploitation of the natural resources in the Gobi-Steppe ecosystem has led to a dramatic increase of transportation networks, required to meet increasing consumer demand for minerals. The existing roads and railroads have proven to be a significant barrier for wildlife migrations.

31 August 2015

Catastrophic Collapse of Saiga Antelopes in Central Asia

More than 120,000 saiga antelope have been confirmed dead in central Kazakhstan, representing more than a third of the global population. This is a major blow for conservation efforts given that saigas have in the past ten years only just started to recover from a global population size of less than 50,000 animals following a 95% crash in numbers.

28 May 2015