The Edge · NT Near Threatened
Saiga Antelope
Saiga tatarica
In 2015, a bacterial infection killed more than 200,000 saigas — over half the global population — in a matter of weeks. Less than a decade later, the herds had rebounded past 2.8 million.
NT · Near Threatened
Overview
The saiga is an Ice Age relic antelope of the Central Asian steppe, instantly recognisable by its bulbous, trunk-like nose — and the subject of one of conservation's most dramatic recent comebacks.
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Field data
| IUCN status | NT · Near Threatened |
|---|---|
| Population | ~2.8 million (2024), up from ~21,000 in 2004 |
| Trend | increasing |
| Last assessed | 2023 |
| Class / Order | Mammalia · Artiodactyla |
| Family | Bovidae |
| Size | ~1–1.4 m body length |
| Lifespan | ~6–10 years |
| Range | Kazakhstan, Russia, Mongolia, Uzbekistan |
Why it matters
Evolutionary distinction
- Has an enlarged, downward-facing 'proboscis' nose that filters dust in summer and warms freezing air in winter.
- Is a survivor of the Pleistocene megafauna that once ranged alongside mammoths and woolly rhinos.
- Undertakes some of the largest land-mammal migrations left in Eurasia, moving in vast herds across the steppe.
- Females often give birth to twins, enabling explosive population recovery after crashes.
Record
Timeline
- PleistoceneRanges across the mammoth steppe from Britain to Alaska.
- 2004Population collapses to roughly 21,000 after poaching for horn.
- 2015A mass die-off kills over 200,000 saigas in weeks.
- 2023Reclassified from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened after a historic recovery.
From the collection
Take one home
plush
Saiga Antelope plush
Museum-grade plush from the Saiga Antelope plate.
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art print
Saiga Antelope art print
Museum-grade art print from the Saiga Antelope plate.
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notebook
Saiga Antelope notebook
Museum-grade notebook from the Saiga Antelope plate.
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Common questions
FAQ
- Is the saiga antelope still endangered?
- The saiga was reclassified from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened in 2023 after its population recovered to over 2.8 million, though some regional populations remain fragile.
- Why does the saiga have such a strange nose?
- Its bulbous, trunk-like nose filters out dust during dry summer migrations and warms and humidifies freezing air in the harsh steppe winter.