Saiga population is close to 2 million: farmers in panic

According to the aerial count of 2023, the increase in the number of saigas of the three populations was 597 thousand, or 45.3% of last year's figure, said the Ministry of Ecology. The largest population is the Ural population - 1.13 million individuals, Betpakdala - 745,300, Ustyurt - 39,700, reports World of NAN.

Meanwhile, according to astanatv.kz, the spring calving of saiga in western Kazakhstan ended safely, and this is of great concern to local farmers. The region has one of the largest populations of steppe antelopes - more than a million - and the numbers are only increasing," farmers said. People are worried that the wild ungulates will devastate pastures and crops.

"Dairy cows walk around, but the saigas leave them nothing. Our children don't get milk of the quality we need. All that's left is the roughage. We need to put them somewhere, find a place for them. This is our heritage", said farmer Sagynay Nurmukhanov.

Okhotzooprom said that during the saiga's calving period the inspectors have switched to a tight schedule, protecting the herds from steppe predators and poachers. This year they conducted monitoring and research work in the steppes. The regional authorities are still puzzling over how to help farmers without harming saigas. It won't take long to allow culling, experts say. But as if in a few years they would not have to save the animals of the same age as mammoths from extinction again.

Local scientists suggest relocating the saiga to the south of its present habitat. However, a water supply must be secured there. And the international expert from Germany, Michel Stefan, noted that the increase in the population is already an achievement in itself. Therefore, killing the steppe antelope is an extreme measure.

"God forbid there will be some very ugly pictures, they can spoil the positive reputation of the country, which currently exists. We also have to look at this from different angles, we have to work very carefully, I think we will find those solutions that will be technically, economically, environmentally correct and in terms of humane treatment of the animals," said Michel Stefan, an international expert.

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