Issue 22, summer-auTumN 2017 Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 SAIGA NEWS Published by the Saiga Conservation Alliance

Providing a six-language forum for exchange of ideas and information about saiga conservation and ecology

Mongolian Saiga female © B. Buuveibaatar

This edition funded by

1 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017

Contents Special Feature Special Feature The 100th anniversary of the Protected Areas system in Russia and Anna Luschekina, Elena Bykova & Natalia Shivaldova The 100th anniversary of the Protected neighbouring countries Areas system in Russia and neighbouring countries Updates Despite all the economic and political challenges that were taking place 100 years Enkhtuvshin Shiilegdamba Mongolian Saiga PPR Virus Outbreak: WCS’s response ago, the Russian Government decided to establish the first nature reserve in the Russian Buyanaa Chimeddorj Local herders feel strong antipathy towards saigas Empire; Barguzinsky Reserve on the shores of Lake Baikal. This reserve aimed to restore Munib Khanyari The Saiga Saga: Mongolian edition a population of sable. This event launched a series of actions aimed at creating a Yury Grachev The 2017 saiga aerial survey results for Kazakhstan uniform, scientifically grounded, system of specially protected areas in Russia. Between Albert Salemgareev & Steffen Zuther Monitoring the Betpakdala and Ural saiga populations 1922, when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed, and 1991 when during the calving period in 2016-17 the country disintegrated, the same system pertained in all the Soviet republics. Danara Jarbolova & Mukhit Suttibayev A national information campaign against trade in saiga horns in Kazakhstan Nowadays, each of the former Soviet republics has its own laws and Protected Area Alyona Krivosheyeva Dogs to control the illegal trade in animal products system. However, the foundations of these systems were laid in the late 19th-early 20th Alyona Krivosheyeva A specialist team formed in Kazakhstan to study and conserve the Ustyurt century, based on work by outstanding Russian and Soviet scientists and naturalists, saiga population including I. P. Borodin, G. F. Morozov, G. A. Kozhevnikov, V. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky Yury Arylov & Kristina Kuzmicheva Saiga Day 2017 and A. N. Formozov. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Protected Media reports Areas form the cornerstone of in situ nature conservation, enabling ecosystems to be conserved and viable populations of species to be maintained and restored in their Articles natural environment. By the early 1990s the USSR’s network of specially protected areas B. Chimeddorj & B. Buuveibaatar Situation analysis for the Mongolian saiga population, comprised around 200 strict reserves (zapovedniks), 23 national parks (natsionalny including the mass die-off due to an outbreak of goat plague Richard Kock Peste des Petits Ruminants in saiga antelopes park) and over 3,000 wildlife preserves (zakazniks). This system was rather different to Shaopeng Cui et al Historical range, extirpation and prospects for reintroduction of saiga in that adopted in other countries, with Zapovedniks being closed to most uses with the China aim of maintaining as pristine an environment as possible, with scientific research as a Vladimir Terentyev & Mark Pestov Conserving a small group of saigas within the Volga-Ural key aim. Zakazniks tended to allow some human uses, but were flexible designations population in Atyrau province, Kazakhstan that could even move seasonally to protect migratory species (including saigas). Irina Novak The role of international institutions in the restoration of saiga antelope populations Although the independent countries of the former USSR have altered and extended Kirsty Simkin Trialling the Theory of Change approach to impact evaluation in conservation using their Protected Area legislation, the core philosophy still owes much to the vision of the the Saiga Conservation Alliance’s work in Uzbekistan as a case study system’s founders. New publications A summary of the current status of Protected Areas in the saiga range Saiga heroes Buyanaa Сhimeddorj, Mongolia KAZAKHSTAN Kazakhstan. The reserve is located in the closed basin of the Turgay and Editorial team: China: Guihong Zhang ([email protected]), Qulong Education Ltd & Professor The Republic of Kazakhstan has 113 Zhigang Jiang ([email protected] Kazakhstan: Uly-Jalanshik rivers and covers the ), Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. protected areas, but saigas are found in Dr. Yu.A. Grachev & Professor A. Bekenov, Institute of Zoology ([email protected]), Alyona Krivisheeva, key calving, wintering, migration and ACBK ([email protected]). Mongolia: Dr. B. Lkhagvasuren ([email protected]), Institute of just ive of them: aggregation areas of the Betpakdala General and Experimental Biology, B. Chimeddorj, ( [email protected]), WWF-Mongolia. Russia: Professor saiga population. Sarykopa, the region’s Yu. Arylov, Centre for Wild Animals of the Republic of Kalmykia ([email protected]) & Dr. A. Lushchekina, The Irgiz-Turgay State Nature Reserve Institute of Ecology & Evolution ( [email protected]). Uzbekistan: E. Bykova [Executive Editor] &. Dr. A. (Fig. 1-1), with an area of 764,000 ha, largest system of freshwater lakes, which is Esipov, Institute of gene pool of plants and animals ([email protected]). UK: Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland was established in Irgiz District in 2007 in regarded as an Important Bird Area, also [Advisory Editor], Oxford University ([email protected]) & Dr. David Mallon [Reviewer], IUCN order to conserve and restore a range lies within the reserve. Antelope Specialist Group, [email protected]. Graphic design by Alfia Ganieva, ([email protected]). of ecological communities, protect the The Korgaljyn State Nature Reserve (Fig. All contributions are welcome, in any of our six languages. Please send them to [email protected] or to one seasonal habitats and migration routes of 1-3), with an area of 543,000 ha, was of the Editors. We publish twice a year. Guidelines for authors are available in English and Russian at www. saigas from the Betpakdala population, established in 1968 in the central part saiga-conservation.com or on request from the Editors. Please contact the Editors responsible for Saiga and conserve the unique marshes and News in your country, or the Executive Editor Elena Bykova ([email protected]), if you have any questions or of Kazakhstan’s steppe zone. Most of concerns. lakes of the Irgiz-Turgay wetland system. its territory is occupied by the marshes The Altyn-Dala State Nature Reserve (Fig. and water bodies of Lakes Korgaljyn and This publication is available online at http://www.saigaresourcecentre.org, www.saiga-conservation.com Tengiz. 260,000 ha of pristine steppe west and http://saigak.biodiversity.ru/publications.html, and as a pdf or in hard copy on request to the Editors, in 1-2) was established in 2012 on an area Chinese, English, Kazakh, Mongolian, Russian and Uzbek. of 490,000 ha in order to conserve the of Lake Tengiz were added to the territory unique steppe ecosystems of Central in 2008, to protect saigas, particularly in 2 3 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Special Feature (cont) the traditional calving areas of part of the shrinkage of the Aral Sea. The most used to be recorded in the reserve. which saigas no longer visit. Betpakdala population. valuable animals within the reserve are A report submitted by Turkmenistan The Stepnoy State Wildlife Preserve ungulates, and particularly an isolated The Naurzum State Nature Reserve (Fig. to the CMS Secretariat in 2015 says (zakaznik) (ig. 1-14), currently about 1-4), with an area of 191,000 ha, was group of saigas. As the Aral Sea shrank, that individual saigas still visit the area 109,000 ha, was founded in 2000 in order established in 1966. It is in the centre Barsakelmes Island became a peninsula, between December and March. to conserve the natural feather-grass of the belt of Eurasian steppes on the and its saigas were able to migrate to UZBEKISTAN steppe ecosystem and a number of rare the eastern shore of the lake to access Turgay Plateau, Northern Kazakhstan. species of plants and animals (particularly sources of fresh water. The system of protected areas in Its aim was to monitor typical, rare and Uzbekistan comprised 9 state nature saigas). It is located in Limansky District, TURKMENISTAN unique natural steppe communities and reserves, 2 national parks and 9 wildlife Astrakhan province, close enough to conserve them in their natural state. Currently, there are 9 State Nature preserves. A new reserve type, the the Cherniye Zemli reserve to provide a buffer against potential trespassers at Saigas are found in the Reserve between Reserves and 16 wildlife preserves in Saigachy Landscape Reserve (ig. 1-9), May and September. Turkmenistan. The Kaplankyr State Nature was established in Karakalpakstan on an the eastern border of Cherniye Zemli. This The Barsakelmes State Reserve (Fig. 1-5) Reserve (ig. 1-6) was established in 1979, area of 848,000 ha in 2016. The location means that the two reserves together was established in an area of around and its current area comprises around was selected based on local natural provide an integrated saiga conservation area. 17,000 ha in 1939. In 2016 it was renamed 282,000 ha, a plateau-like clay-rich conditions, which are best habitats in Barsakelmes State Biosphere Reserve elevated region in Southern Ustyurt, at the area for saigas and some other rare The Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky and extended to 407,132 ha through the junction of northern and southern animal and plant species of the Ustyurt State Nature Reserve (ig. 1-15), of the addition of the Kaskakulan section, deserts, not far from the border with Plateau. The reserve includes both the approximately 19,000ha, was founded a previously submerged area, and the Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It contains traditional migration routes of the Ustyurt in 1997 in order to conserve the little- creation of buffer and transition zones. the Sarykamysh (ig. 1-7) and Shasenem saiga population and some of their disturbed semi-desert communities This is the only reserve in the former Soviet (ig. 1-8) State Wildlife Preserves breeding areas. around Lake Baskunchak, one of Russia’s Union that features extreme ecological (zakazniks). Formerly saigas from the RUSSIA largest closed saltwater bodies. It also conditions and lies within the zone of Ustyurt population, which came from encompasses Mount Big Bogdo (149.6 a global ecological catastrophe - the Uzbekistan in particularly cold winters, Currently, there are over 12,000 protected m above sea level), the highest point of areas in Russia, of various kinds, from the Caspian Depression. The saigas of the federal to provincial. Of the federal Volga-Ural population occasionally visit protected areas there are 103 state this reserve from Kazakhstan. Previously, nature reserves, 47 national parks and 67 the area around Lake Baskunchak was wildlife preserves. Some of the protected within saiga range and on a migration areas are primarily aimed at saiga route. conservation. The Orenburg State Nature Reserve (ig. The Cherniye Zemli State Nature 1-16), 40,000 ha in size, was established Biosphere Reserve (ig. 1-10) was in 1989 in order to conserve and restore established in 1990. Its main sector, unique steppe landscapes. Only one of Stepnoy, with an area of almost its ive sections, Aschisay Steppe, 7,200 100,000 ha, is situated in the Caspian ha in size, is currently reported to receive Depression, between the Kuma and occasional visits from saigas from the Volga Rivers. In 2009 the reserve took on Betpakdala population. the management of three federal wildlife preserves, Makletinsky (ig. 1-11), Sarpinsky Saigas from Kazakhstan’s Volga-Ural (ig. 1-12) and Kharbinsky (ig. 1-13), of population sometimes visit areas of which Makletinsky is in the current range Astrakhan, Volgograd and Saratov of the pre-Caspian saiga population. provinces on the left bank of the Volga River, but unfortunately there is no Figure. The Protected Areas in the saiga range. However, the other two, Sarpinsky and 1 – Saiga tatarica, 2 – Saiga tatarica mongolica, 3 – Protected areas Kharbinsky, are further north, in an area protected area in this region. 4 5 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Special Feature (cont)

Educational activities on Protected Areas lessons, children chose the role of some rare animal, which then had to get to RUSSIA its reserve through a series of obstacles. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian In music lessons the children became Federation, decreed 2017 to be the Year one of the characters in a puppet show, of Protected Areas. Amongst other things, defeating poachers and saving a saiga this resulted in the “Zapovedniki” Centre baby, then taking it to a reserve, its new for Ecology and Education initiating the safe and cosy home. In school No. 56 in All-Russia Lesson on protected areas, Karakalpakstan, an ecotheatre and lash with the support of a number of other mob by members of the My i Mir (We and organisations. The Lesson lasts for 45 Open lesson on botany focussed on Uzbekistan’s re- the World) steppe club added to the serves © SCA festival. In Kirkkiz the steppe clubs also minutes and is targeted at children of - A reserve lesson given by researchers from the Step focussed on saigas for their performance various ages. It teaches them about noy Wildlife Reserve at a secondary school in Promys- but also to think about how they should their country’s wildlife and the system lovsky © http://www.ifaw.org/russia/urok integrate protected areas into each of and competitions. The children saw a ilm about Chatkal Reserve in the mountains of protected areas that is meant to Cherniye Zemli Reserve also gave a their subjects in the most interesting and conserve its diversity. series of lessons in schools near their accessible way. Protected areas which contain reserve, including competitions, ilms and The Day of Protected Areas began in saigas also took part in this activity. souvenirs. Stepnoi reserve similarly gave a Nukus. Some of the children visited the presentation to their local schoolchildren Teachers and researchers from the Lower Amudarya Biosphere Reserve Bogdinsko-Beskuchansky Reserve held about the diversity of fauna and lora to explore its riparian forest (tugai) an extracurricular event called ‘The in their reserve and the hard work that ecosystem and its main inhabitant, the rangers do to protect that fragile and Bogdinsko-Beskuchansky Reserve, a Bukhara red deer, and learn about Gem of Astrakhan’, which consisted of vulnerable corner of Astrakhan province. the work of rangers and researchers. a colourful presentation, poems, songs Saigas were the main subject of the Those who had been lucky enough to and a competition. The children learnt lecture, which emphasised how the participate in the expedition then shared younger generation – the schoolchildren Puppet show about Saigachy reserve at the music les- that the Bogdinsko-Beskuchansky Reserve their impressions with their classmates. son in Jaslyk village. SCA is a unique place visited occasionally themselves – would have to take up the The event climaxed with a grand show, cause of conservation in their native land. by guests from Kazakhstan – saigas followed by a screening of the ilm The above Tashkent, and asked questions of The children also learnt about the Saiga - and that it is vital to conserve the Saigas of the Ustyurt Plateau: The Right to researchers and reserve staff. area for future generations. Staff from Conservation Alliance and its activities Live. in Russia and elsewhere. The lesson A team of ecologists’ visit to a culminated in a short quiz, with prizes Schools in the villages of Jaslyk, kindergarten was a highlight. This is where donated by the International Fund for Karakalpakstan and Kirkkiz then picked a new initiative called Ana Saygak Animal Welfare. up the baton. During Physical Education (Mama Saiga) is being developed. This time they presented a happy fairytale, UZBEKISTAN in which little saigas made friends with The initiative of Russian scientists good children and together defeated encouraged their colleagues in poachers, saved the saigas’ mother and Uzbekistan. Over 2,000 people, young arrived in Saigachy Reserve to enjoy a and old, from the city of Nukus and the new life. villages of Jaslyk, Karakalpak and Kirkkiz, So, the Day of Protected Areas events took part in events celebrating protected and lessons are over in Russia and Staf from Cherniye Zemli Reserve gave reserve lessons areas in Uzbekistan and around the world. Uzbekistan. All the schools have returned in Chernozemelsky and Yashkulsky Districts of the Re- It was a real challenge for teachers, as public of Kalmykia © http://zapovednik-chernyezemli.ru to their routines. However, a caring they not only had to master new material, Day of Protected Areas in Karakalpakia village © SCA attitude towards wildlife, and a feeling 6 7 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Updates of involvement in the common cause of This meeting was supported by FAO/OIE, conservation of vulnerable and unique the US Embassy in Mongolia, USGS, USFWS ecosystems, have been planted in and WCS and organized by the Ministry of the soul of each participant. We hope Environment and Tourism and the Ministry educational events such as these will of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry on become an ongoing tradition. May 29- 31, 2017. Thereafter, Western 4 Anna Luschekina, Elena Bykova and Natalia province and State Central Veterinary Shivaldova saiga Conservation alliance and Laboratory (SCVL) experts were invited to ekomaktab ecological resource Centre, a week of training on gross necropsy in the [email protected] field, characterization and documentation Participants in the “Mama Saiga” initiative with their of the gross necropsy findings, and how to Wildlife Pathology Necropsy Training for the State Cen- young charges from Jaslyk village’s nursery. © SCA do basic laboratory analysis of samples in tral Veterinary Laboratory and veterinary lab profes- the field. This training was funded by the sionals from the saiga range. © WCS Mongolia Trust for Mutual Understanding. Bronx zoo populations. This willdetermine where Mongolian Saiga PPR Virus Outbreak: WCS’s response pathologists Charlotte pathologists and how the disease is spreading so Charlotte Hollinger and Ania Tomaszewicz Enkhtuvshin Shiilegdamba, Wildlife Conservation Society, [email protected] that interventions, such as livestock provided the technical training. vaccination, can be targeted to stop A saiga mass mortality event is still and Animal Breeding Agency and State With support recently secured from Morris the spread of the disease and continuing in the Great Lakes Depression Central Veterinary Laboratory virologist Animal Foundation, Saiga Conservation minimize the impacts on wild of western Mongolia. According to the Dr. Munkhduuren Shatar, carried out Alliance and the FAO/OIE, WCS is planning ungulate populations. The PPR virus latest government reports it’s believed field missions along with the FAO/OIE to survey wild ungulate populations in most likely spilled over from infections that over 5,000 saigas have died since Crisis Management Center and Animal Western Mongolia, including saiga in domestic sheep and goats. WCS December 2016 in the Durgun steppe, Health team. This consisted of Dr. antelopes, Goitered gazelle, Siberian Ibex and partners (FAO/OIE, Ministry Khuisiin Gobi and Sharga Gobi of Khovd Richard Kock from the Royal Veterinary and Argali. We will collar animals and of Environment and Tourism, Ministry and Gobi-Altai Provinces of Mongolia, College, UK, and Dr. Bolortuya collect samples from these individuals to of Food, Agriculture and Light bordered by the Altai Mountains and Puversuren, a local epidemiological detect immunity against PPR in saiga Industry, WWF, Institute of General China. The most recent pre-outbreak consultant. The team aimed to rapidly and Experimental Biology) are population estimate for the Mongolian assess the situation and collect samples working to design effective control saiga, a unique subspecies, was from dead saiga. They conducted strategies for both livestock and around 10,000, so this event represents necropsies on fresh saiga carcasses and wildlife to eradicate PPR, and prevent a signiicant loss of the population. The evaluated sick saigas, confirming the serious long term socio-economic cause is a livestock virus known as PPR PPR diagnosis and providing and biodiversity consequences. or Peste des Petits Ruminants. The disease recommendations on data collection Increased investment in saiga was irst detected in goats and sheep and immediate control measures. antelope and habitat protection will in the saiga range area in August 2016, The WCS team is continuing to work on also be needed to ensure that the and subsequently spilled over into the the saiga PPR outbreak, and the latest remaining saiga population can wildlife [see the articles by B. Chimeddorj major initiatives include an “International recover after this devastating & B. Buuveibaatar and R. Kock in this issue Experts Meeting on Addressing PPR setback. Therefore WCS continues to for more details]. Virus Outbreak in Mongolian Saiga and look for other donors and support to A WCS response team, including WCS Livestock”, providing recommendations prevent the extinction of this critical to the Mongolian Government for further Mongolia Program Director Dr. Enkhtuvshin Meeting participants at the “International Experts subspecies and support efforts Shiilegdamba, biologists Dr. Buuveibaatar activities that are critical to controlling Meeting on Addressing PPR Virus Outbreak in towards PPR eradication in Mongolia Bayarbaatar, Ariunbaatar Barkhasbaatar, and eradicating this disease in livestock Mongolian Saiga and Livestock”. © WCS Mongolia by 2025. Dr. Batkhuyag Sandag from the Veterinary and wildlife in Mongolia.

8 9 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017

Updates (cont) Local herders feel strong antipathy towards saigas As we sat under the baking Gobi sun, we spotted a group. Excitingly, a female Buyanaa Chimeddorj, WWF-Mongolia, [email protected] was accompanied by two smaller Thousands of Mongolian saigas have their status as an endangered endemic saigas. Suddenly, they sat down and died due to PPR and only 4961 individuals species. There is no beneit to protecting disappeared. This was the moment! Upon are left alive. Although the outbreak has them. On the contrary, they destroy our reaching the site, we found twins! The started to wane, a new challenge has limited pasture resources and now start to team was ecstatic to inally spot calves. emerged – local herders feel a strong contaminate our livestock. We just cannot However, one of them weighed 2.2 kg, antipathy towards saigas. The poor animal love and appreciate the existence of the lowest recorded for a Mongolian had a reputation of being the cause of saigas” said a herder. saiga calf. A normal Mongolia Saiga pasture overgrazing and now it’s blamed baby weighs around 3 kg. Was the plague for spreading this infectious disease. While human-wildlife conlict already responsible? One of the nine saiga calves that were spotted Herders have become cautious, as they exists for the snow leopards due to their during the calving. Notice the impressive Over the next 4 days, we spent over camoulage. © Munib Khanyari assume that contaminated saigas could predation on livestock, now we face 10 hours a day searching. The calves infect domestic livestock. The majority another conlict, between herders and remained elusive. In these bleak times, of herders are feeling ever-increasing saiga antelopes. A new communications in the Veterinary lab in Ulaanbaatar teamwork was crucial. Upon sighting hate towards this animal. “They do not and advocacy strategy is needed, as for presence of PPR antibodies and what seemed to be a distant suckling have any value for herders’ lives, despite well as tools tailored to this speciic target Pasteurella (in 2015 in Kazakhstan saigas female, as we scanned from atop a audience, in order to address this conlict. died from pasteurellosis, when the hill, Buyanbaatar, a local ranger, ixed commensal Pasteurella bacteria turned the spotting scope with her in his gaze. The Saiga Saga: Mongolian Edition virulent). Additionally, we collected Buuvei, another ranger, and I sat in the information on saiga group sizes and Munib Khanyari, Bristol University, munib@ncf-india.org car, switching on our walkie-talkies. structure and the proportion of pregnant Buyanbaatar guided us and we found a females, to see if trends in these were Largely a semi-arid environment, the Gobi tiny calf. seems at irst to be an inhospitable place. affected by the plague. We also However, as I sat with my colleagues and In the end, we only found 9 calves, a pair collected teeth from dead individuals for local rangers that had come to monitor of twins and some singletons, many fewer aging. saiga calving in our camp in Shargiin than our projected 40 (the number found Upon reaching Ulaanbaatar we learnt Gobiin, Western Mongolia, with chirping in previous monitoring expeditions). Some of ibex deaths near our ield site. Many birds and skittering lizards, the place were a few days old and extremely hard of the nearly 20 dead animals had been couldn’t feel more alive. to catch! Maybe the saiga did lose their diagnosed with PPR. Has the disease pregnancies or were not mated due to slipped into the mountain ungulates? I During the rutting season, a PPR (Peste des PPR. We could only speculate! petites ruminants) outbreak, transferred contemplated this and simultaneously from livestock, decimated 54% of the As we sat in the Darvi soum (provincial thought of the saiga. Against all the saiga population. The calving in June 2017 capital), on our way back to Ulaanbaatar, odds, this creature which once lived with could perhaps be crucial to sustain this The saiga calf monitoring team taking a break in we reminisced about the steppe. This the mammoths, has survived in one of the Darvi soum near the Saiga calving grounds the most hostile environments on Earth. thinning population. We were here with in Shargiin Gobi © Munib Khanyari year’s calf monitoring had been tough; two missions; to monitor saiga calving, illed with gusty desert winds, long hours of With that thought I rested my head and As the ifth day passed without sighting and to collect samples to see if they have scanning and only 9 calves. Nonetheless, believed that the last chapter of this calves, we were starting to despair. Two developed PPR antibodies in reaction to we were happy to get blood samples long story that is the saiga, isn’t deinitely the outbreak. Finding saiga babies can local vets had told us that, following the from each, which were to be tested written yet! be a challenging task. For four days we PPR outbreak in livestock in September 2016, many female sheep and goats had spotted none. As our vehicle traversed the steppe, we spotted a few saiga carcasses aborted their pregnancies. Was the same happening to saigas? – a grim reminder of the plague. 10 11 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017

Updates (cont)

Saiga aerial survey results for Kazakhstan in 2017 largest of which was recorded in the Irgiz To summarise, calving was successful in Turgay Reserve and consisted of 4,000 both the Ural and Betpakdala populations Yuri Grachev, Institute of Zoology, Science Committee, Ministry of Education and Science of the individuals. in 2016 and 2017. Republic of Kazakhstan [email protected] The aerial survey of saigas in Kazakhstan The total number of saigas in Kazakhstan The research team included experts was commissioned by the Forestry and is 152,600 individuals, with 51,700 in from the following organisations: ACBK; Wildlife Committee, Ministry of Agriculture Betpakdala, 2,700 in Ustyurt and 98,200 Okhotzooprom; Research Institute for of the Republic of Kazakhstan and carried in the Ural population. By comparison Biological Safety Problems, Ministry out between 11th and 30th April 2017. with 2016, the Betpakdala population of Education and Science; National Researchers from the Institute of Zoology, has increased by 42.8%, the Ustyurt Reference Centre for Veterinary Okhotzooprom, the regional forestry and population by 42.1% and the Ural Medicine, Ministry of Agriculture; Institute wildlife inspectorates and the Altyn-Dala, population by 39.8%. The total number of of Zoology, Ministry of Education and Irgiz-Turgay and Korgalgy State Reserves saigas in Kazakhstan has grown by 40.9% Science; Royal Veterinary College (UK); took part in the monitoring. compared to 2016. Frankfurt Zoological Society (Germany). For details please go to: http://www.acbk. A calving aggregation of female saigas kz/ru and http://www.acbk.kz/ru Monitoring the situation in the Betpakdala and Ural saiga populations in © Albert Salemgareev Kazakhstan during the calving period in 2016-17 Albert Salemgareev & Steffen Zuther, ACBK, [email protected], [email protected] A national information campaign against trade in saiga horns in Since 2008 specialists from the Association Kazakhstan for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Danara Jarbolova & Mukhit Suttibayev, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) have been monitoring Kazakhstan, [email protected], [email protected] saigas in their calving areas as part of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, with a For two months between November special emphasis put on the Betpakdala 2016 and January 2017 the Association and Ural populations in 2016 and 2017. for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan (ACBK) conducted a In 2016 the saigas of the Ural population large-scale information campaign were calving at the border between against illegal trade in saiga horns. The Janybek and Kaztalov Districts of West campaign’s main goal was to prevent Kazakhstan province, where we recorded the distribution of announcements by two large aggregations between 7th and An eartagged newly born saiga buyers of saiga horns, warn people 17th May. During 90km of transect surveys, © Albert Salemgareev about criminal penalties for buying/ we ear-tagged 320 saiga calves. Saigas selling saiga horns and attract public from the Betpakdala population were survey we examined 950 new-born calves attention to the problem of saiga calving in the Irgiz Turgay State Nature and eartagged 663. Calving took place in conservation. The campaign was Reserve between 5th and 12th May. two areas 35 km apart. initiated by ACBK and supported by Around 200 saiga calves were eartagged Although in 2017 the spring arrived late the Nature Protection Police (Ministry on a transect 65 km long; the average in the northern regions of Kazakhstan, of Internal Affairs), Forestry and Wildlife weight of a calf (irrespective of sex) was Betpakdala’s saigas had inished calving Committee (Ministry of Agriculture) and 3.16 kg. by 12th May. This year, the saigas did Okhotzooprom. In 2017 we also monitored the calving not form large calving aggregations but gathered into different-sized groups We created webpages on Facebook areas of the Ural population, on 28 An information sticker about the illegality of buy- scattered across the calving area, the and Vkontakte social networks as transects totalling 142 km. During the platforms for exchanging information ing/selling saiga horns, designed by ACBK 12 13 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Updates (cont)

7 provinces (Fig. 1). The largest number Dogs to control the illegal trade in animal products of advertisements was recorded in Mangistau, Karaganda, Almaty and Alyona Krivosheyeva, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, Aktobe provinces. This resulted in the [email protected] detection of 24 telephone numbers for saiga horn buyers and 19 websites International Trade in Endangered where buying/selling of saiga horns Species (CITES). Eight dogs of three was taking place. Letters were sent breeds – Belgian Shepherd, Labrador to the administrators of all these Retriever and Springer Spaniel – were websites informing them about the trained at the Dog Training Centre to Figure 1. The number of illegal announcements illegal character of this type of activity, about buying/selling saiga horns in diferent smell narcotic drugs, saiga horns, cities of Kazakhstan upon which the announcements steppe tortoises and saker falcons. were immediately removed from 11 of These species were chosen based on and discussing wildlife conservation these sites. Analysis of the telephone data from law enforcement issues, with a special emphasis on saigas. numbers showed that most of the The pages attracted 686 subscribers (667 agencies and the mass media on saiga horn buyers and sellers were from the levels of illegal trafficking of on Facebook and 19 on Vkontakte). the cities of Karaganda and Almaty these species and their derivates in Social network users uploaded (Fig. 2). photographs of announcements Kazakhstan and over the border. about buying/selling saiga horns All the data collected was forwarded from their communities. In addition, Experts from Makor K9, USA, will join to the Nature Protection Police and a hotline for posting photographs of the Kazakh team to test the trained Forestry and Wildlife Committee. dogs’ conformity with international similar advertisements was created The Ministry of Internal Affairs is now in WhatsApp. Volunteers and law requirements and quality standards. carrying out investigations based on Kanat Aliyev and a Belgian Shepherd Dog enforcement agents designed and the information received. Thus, this nicknamed “Kichik” © ACBK Later the dogs will be assigned distributed 5,000 stickers in a number campaign informed people across to various customs and border of Kazakhstan’s cities (Astana, Almaty, Kazakhstan about the illegality of checkpoints within Kazakhstan and at Aktobe, Karaganda, Aktau, Uralsk, Between 10th April and 5th July 2017 buying/selling saiga products and the Forestry and Wildlife Committee the country’s borders with Uzbekistan Atyrau and Kyzylorda), informing people attracted the public’s attention to and Kyrgyzstan. On 5 July 2017 an about the illegality of saiga trading. (Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic the problems of poaching control of Kazakhstan), Association for official ceremony was held to mark Over the course of the campaign over and conservation of this globally the Conservation of Biodiversity the end of the training course. 200 announcements were detected in endangered antelope species. of Kazakhstan and Dog Training Centre (State Revenue Committee, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan) implemented a joint project aimed at training dogs to assist in nature conservation. The project’s primary goal was to help to detect smuggling of animal products across the border of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Other goals include raising law enforcement agencies’ awareness of the Convention on Training of dogs to recognize a hidden smell - paper smelling of saiga horns © ACBK Figure 2. The distribution of saiga horns buyers across Kazakhstan, based on an analysis of advertisements in a) the cities and b) the internet.

14 15 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Updates (cont)

An interagency conference on Forestry and Wildlife Committee, Saiga Day-2017 controlling the illegal trafficking of Border Service, regional nature wildlife and its derivatives to and conservation prosecution agencies, Celebrating Saiga Day shortly before the appearance of baby saigas has from the Republic of Kazakhstan Nature Protection Police, become a good tradition. This international ecological holiday, which takes were held. The conference was Okhotzooprom and a range of place in all saiga range countries, aims to develop love for, and a caring attitude attended by representatives of the scientific organisations. towards, wildlife in general and saiga antelopes in particular, among both the State Revenue Committee, young and older generations. Saiga Day in Kalmykia Yury Arylov, Kalmyk State University, [email protected] A specialist team formed in Kazakhstan to study and conserve the Ustyurt saiga This year the celebration of Saiga Day in Kalmykia was divided into two stages; Alyona Krivosheyeva, Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan, the irst part was held in Yashkul’ District [email protected] on 10th April and the second part in and age composition, assessing the Chernozemelsky District on 26th April. animals’ health, analysing threats Both districts are core saiga habitat, and so on); raising local people’s where females aggregate year after ecological knowledge and education; year for calving. This is the period when our beautiful steppe awakens and tulips, assisting governmental organisations in poaching control. To ensure irises and other plants begin blossoming, success, ACBK has signed cooperation while wild animals and birds rear babies and hatch eggs. Baby saigas inform the agreements with Okhotzooprom and the Saiga Day in Adyk village © Zh. Anzheniva Aktyubinsk regional forestry and wildlife world of their arrival by making gentle inspectorate. sounds that spread across the steppe. Life stressed the importance of this holiday is restarting!!! for the whole of Russia. Then the Idris The team consists of ive people, each of ensemble went on stage. The performers Rangers being taught to use GPS © ACBK whom has a particular responsibility. They In Yashkul’ District, Saiga Day has used dance to tell the audience about traditionally been organised at The project was implemented as have been trained in saiga monitoring the saiga’s fate and that the animal’s Khaglysheva School in Yashkul’ and part of the Altyn Dala Conservation and conservation and provided with salvation was in our hands. Young features over 100 participants, including Initiative, with the inancial support of the necessary equipment, such as cars, ecologists took part in an ecological international partners, including the US cameras, GPS and other things. The members of Living Heritage (Yashkul adventure game called ‘The World of village), Bamb Tsetsg (Adyk village) and Fish and Wildlife service and Fauna and project was sponsored largely by Fauna Sacred Wildlife’, in teams called ‘tigers’, Flora International. and Flora International (FFI). Elvg-Delvg Erdikhi (Erdniyevsky village) ‘wolves’, ‘foxes’, ‘owls’ and ‘saigas’. The steppe clubs, students from the villages of game included ecological theatre, a Currently, the Ustyurt population of saigas Utta and Khulkhuta, oficials, researchers poetry contest on the theme ‘The Saigas is the smallest and therefore the most and staff of the Student Centre for of My Native Land’, and games called vulnerable in the world. This encouraged Ecology and Biology, Elista Education ‘The Erudite Person’ and ‘Dance with the Association for the Conservation Administration, Cherniye Zemli Reserve, Us.’ The ‘saiga’ team won, followed by of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan to form the Institute for Ecology and Evolution the owls in second place and the tigers a Saiga Monitoring and Conservation (Academy of Sciences of the Russian third. Prizegiving was followed by tea with Team to work on the Ustyurt Plateau, Federation) and students from Moscow traditional Kalmyk desserts. The inal stage as part of the Altyn Dala Conservation Intellectual School. of the event consisted of planting 25 fruit Initiative. For the next three years, the O. Ochirova, Director of Yashkul School, tree seedlings in the school yard, and team will work on three principal topics: and Ye. A. Samtanova, Head of the naming the area the ‘Saiga Garden’. monitoring Ustyurt’s saigas (detecting Training courses for the Ustyurt Saiga Monitoring Zhivoye Naslediye ecology club, delivered Mergulchiyev Secondary School in Adyk, calving areas, collecting data on sex and Conservation Team ©ACBK welcoming speeches, in which they where the Bamb Tsetseg steppe club has 16 17 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Updates (cont) been based for the last few years, picked of the necessity of protecting saigas. up the baton and hosted the second The concert was closed by the Saiga phase of Saiga Day. The participants Hymn performed by its author Koblan included grade 5 to 8 children from Yedenbayev, who made a symbolic the school, members of the Ecologist gesture of passing the singing baton to club from Manjiyev Secondary School the younger generation. in Komsomolsk, the Young Ecologist club from the House of Children’s Art in Shortly before Saiga Day, the villages of Jaslyk and Karakalpakstan hosted the Chernozemelsky District and students from a secondary school in Sarul. V. Kh. semi-inals and inals of the Saiga Cup Banjayev, Director of the hosting school, football and volleyball championships. Saiga marathon in Nukus city brought together and Ye. Kh. Tsorkhayeva, Head of the Planting fruit tree seedlings in Yashkul’ village This has already become a tradition, people dedicated to saiga protection © SCA © Yury Arylov Bamb Tsetsg club, greeted the children and featured adult teams from different joined in Saiga Day this year. The teachers mahallas (town blocks), railway workers, and their parents. Afterwards there was a of one of the kindergartens, members of gas compressor station workers, school prize-giving and an ecological adventure https://vesti-kalmykia. a new group called Ana Saygak (‘Mama Find more details at teachers and senior school students. game. Finally, the children planted trees ru. https://zapvednik-chernyezemli.ru, Saiga’), told the children about saigas and Adults and children came together for a in schoolyards in the villages of Adyk and https://vkalmykii.com then, together with their pupils, acted out “King of Cleanliness” activity, collecting Erdniyevsky. a fairytale about a magic saiga. Dressed 800 sacks of plastic bags and other in wonderful costumes, the kids felt their household rubbish. Later, at the awards Saiga Day in Uzbekistan roles (of a rich man and a poor man, a ceremony, participants were given prizes, saiga and a beast) so deeply that they crowned King and Queen of Cleanliness, Kristina Kuzmicheva, Ekomaktab Ecological Resource Centre, [email protected] looked like real actors. The inale consisted and thanked by the mahalla committees. of dances and a game called ‘Saigas \Saiga Day has been celebrated in Starting on 1 May in Nukus, the marathon In every village, Saiga Day began with the and the Hunter’, after which the children Karakalpakstan for several years. It aims continued in the villages of Kirkkiz, Jaslyk Saiga Hymn. In schools No. 54 in Jaslyk and went out into the garden and planted to improve people’s attitudes towards and Karakalpakstan, all situated near No. 56 in Karakalpakstan this was followed lowers which they will keep looking after. the wildlife of their native land. In 2017, the Saigachy Reserve in Kungrad District. by the unveiling of saiga murals in school The youngest students of School No. 37 Saiga Day began with a marathon, Around 1,000 people of different ages ecogardens, saiga poster competitions, were active participants in the Kirkkiz dedicated to saiga protection, to took part in the marathon, with the displays of crafts from natural and recycled event, joining in numerous arts and sports attract the attention of the republic’s message that saigas should be given materials and theatre performances. In competitions. Parents are keen to join in wildlife protection and conservation law a chance to survive. According to the Karakalpakstan, after the prizegiving, next year as well. enforcement authorities to the growing participants, the event united them and everyone did a lash mob in costume. The gala concert and awards ceremony level of poaching in the Aral Sea area. allowed them to perceive how saigas The youngest inhabitants of Jaslyk again feel on their long trips and how important in Jaslyk attracted around 500 spectators. it is to ensure the protection of these The village council was one of the eternal travellers, particularly during the event’s sponsors, awarding the Saiga migration period. The awards ceremony Cup. Kuralay, a team of artists working in was followed by a series of concerts. The traditional Karakalpak embroidery, was a concert in Nukus featured Karakalpak true gem of the festival. The girls organised pop stars, the dance group Progress a show to demonstrate their work and from the Centre for Education and performed a traditional Karakalpak Development and children from steppe dance, dressed in beautiful skullcaps they clubs in Nukus and the villages of Kirkkiz, had embroidered with their own hands. Jaslyk and Karakalpakstan. The children As in the village of Karakalpakstan, the took part in a conservation advocacy celebration culminated in a general lash

The gala concert in Jaslyk village. © SCA contest, aiming to convince others Saiga football cup in Karakalpakia village © SCA mob! 18 19 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017

Media reports

Collared saigas to be released in Astrakhan province in Russia The saiga in the Darwin Museum Apart from the Saiga Conservation from the Volga-Ural population in Last year not a single violation of nature conservation regulations was recorded in the Stepnoy Alliance and Ekomaktab, the co- Kazakhstan. Reserve,’ added Vladimir Kalmykov. organizers of the event were the The Saigak Nursery was founded in 2003 Karakalpak Department of the Ecological Between 4th April and 25th June 2017 Protection’, an educational project for Movement of Uzbekistan and Institute and currently contains 31 saigas (9 males an exhibition called ‘Saiga - a relict children and adults which the fund has of Natural Sciences (Karakalpak and 22 females). In 2013 the irst two antelope’ took place in one of the halls been carrying out annually for over 25 saigas were collared and released in department of the Academy of Sciences of the State Darwin Museum in Moscow. years. The visitors familiarised themselves of Uzbekistan). The celebration was Astrakhan province (see Saiga News 18). This is the largest museum of natural with the saiga, a wonderful ungulate supported by the Council of Ministers of The satellite data conirmed that wild sciences in Europe. Its goal was to draw species, saw original photographs and the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Nukus antelopes accepted the released saigas people’s attention to this unique animal videos and enjoyed the works of young into their herd. Khokimiyat (City Hall), as well as by WCN, and its status, and was organised by the artists. International Fund for Animal Welfare WWF Russia and the company Uz-Kor-Gaz According to Kalmykov, the number of (IFAW) as part of ‘The Week of Wildlife See more at http://www.darwinmuseum.ru Chemikal. saigas in the north-western pre-Caspian According to Vladimir Kalmykov, Director population (Astrakhan province and the of the Stepnoi Reserve in Astrakhan Republic of Kalmykia) does not exceed province, Russia, ive saiga males from 4,500 individuals. However, recently the population decline has stopped and in the ‘Saigak’ breeding centre at the Astrakhan State Experimental Hunting 2016 an increase in the number of males Enterprise will be released into Stepnoi was even recorded, which is a very in late November 2017. This is one of positive sign. ‘Our primary task now is 130 measures listed for action under the to conserve saigas throughout its range Year of Ecology in Astrakhan province. in the north-western pre-Caspian area, Another measure is the formation of a mainly through eliminating poaching. special team of rangers to protect saigas See more at: https://punkt-a.info/news, in the north-western pre-Caspian area http://fresh-news.org/oshestvo, http://jilkin. and saigas entering Astrakhan province ru/news

Saiga male at a watering hole in the Stepnoi Reserve © Eugeny Polonsky

20 21 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Articles

Situation analysis for the Mongolian saiga population, including the mass population has declined by 54.5% in the overall population estimate. No symptoms die-off due to an outbreak of goat plague two months since the disease outbreak of PPR were discovered during the ield (Graph 1). During the March expedition, research (Map 2). 1 2 B .Chimeddorj * and B. Buuveibaatar 65 carcasses were found, of which 43% 1 - Mongolia Program Office, World Wide Fund for Nature, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, were fresh, proving that individuals 2 - Wildlife Conservation Society, Mongolia Program, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia continue to perish (Map 1). Samples were *Corresponding author: Buyanaa Chimeddorj , [email protected] taken from three saigas and three goitred The Great Lakes Depression in western gazelles and analysed by the State Mongolia is the last refuge of the central veterinary laboratory; ive of them Mongolian Saiga (Saiga tatarica tested positive for PPR virus. Although the mongolica), a distinct endemic intensity of mortality has reduced, this subspecies. The subspecies now only doesn’t mean that the disease outbreak inhabits the Shargiin Gobi, Khuisiin has halted, as virus was detected in the Gobi and Durgun valley, in the Great samples taken from Shargiin Gobi, which Lakes Depression of Western Mongolia we had believed to be unaffected. (Amgalan et al., 2006). The total population size was 10,000 individuals Since the saiga conservation programme started in 1998, its range has extended in 2016, having increased over the past Figure 1. Population size of the Mongolian few years, after a population crash in the saiga over time into the subspecies’ historical range in Zavkhan region of Uvs province, Durvuljin winter of 2001-2002, caused by a dzud kill around 90% of infected animals, is (harsh winter), had left only 750 animals. currently ongoing. So far, the pathogen region of Zavkhan province, Khukhmorit region of Gobi-Altai province and Durgun Sadly, the fate of the Mongolia saiga is is spreading from the north-west to the south-east of the Mongolian saiga region of Khovd province. Field teams currently again in jeopardy. An epidemic in these places estimated a total of 201 distribution and is already covering Map 2. Location of the fragmented of peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR), a saiga individuals in fragmented sub- around 60-70% of the subspecies’ range. subpopulations of the Mongolian Saiga viral disease of ruminants which can populations. These are not counted in the Over 3,000 saigas were conirmed dead as of 6th February 2017. According to international experts, the mortality Key recommendations: event is likely to continue in the coming months. The fact that the disease has Set up a quarantine area in the affected areas, increase control of irresponsible not previously caused mass mortality of actions by livestock owners and enforce rules, wild ungulates is surprising, and it may Produce a simple and comprehensive information lyer on the Mongolian saiga and be that saiga antelopes are particularly disseminate it to households in the saiga’s range, vulnerable to the disease. Protect rutting and calving areas, identify areas to be protected and develop Assessment of the Mongolian Saiga’s protection regimes, distribution, location and abundance Develop a strategy to save the Mongolian saiga through undertaking detailed DNA was carried out from 13th to 20th March research on genetic capacity, 2017. In order to compare the results with Develop an action plan to be implemented after the disease outbreak has abated. prior research indings, ield research Re-introduction of the Mongolian saiga to its historical range should be particularly was conducted using the line transect considered, method. The survey suggested that 4,961 saigas inhabited the saiga range (14,713 Create favourable conditions for predator populations to grow within the range of the Mongolian saiga; prohibit hunting of gray wolves, red foxes and corsac foxes for a sq km) with a density of 0.34 heads per sq certain period, km. Compared to the survey in January Map 1. Location of Mongolian Saiga carcasses 2017 (10,907 saigas estimated), the Enforce rules and regulations on appropriate pasture use.

22 23 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Articles (cont)

Peste des Petits Ruminants in saiga antelopes the majority of deaths were due to PPR, including for the irst time PPR in wild Rickard Kock, Royal Veterinary College, UK. [email protected] Siberian ibex (Capra sibirica) and goitered Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a gazelle (Gazella subguttorosa). The high devastating plague. The cause is a small mortality in saigas is concerning, showing virus which is highly infectious through that they are either very susceptible being breathed in, causing damage (unlike most African antelopes studied in to the respiratory and gastrointestinal free-ranging conditions) or perhaps they systems of susceptible hoofed mammals. were nutritionally challenged and had It is a disease predominantly of domestic lowered resistance to infection given their sheep and goats but spills over into wildlife precarious habitat and extreme resource and has been reported to cause deaths competition. This makes a double tragedy FAO CMC Emergency mission to Khuisen in the mountain ungulates of Asia, like ibex for the species, with over 200,000 lost in Gobi January 2017 Back: Left to Right: Dr Buuveibaatar (WCS); Prof Kock, (Royal Vet and blue sheep. It has been spreading Kazakhstan as a result of haemorrhagic College London); Dr Bolortuya (United Nations across Africa and Asia for several septicaemia in 2015. - FAO), Dr Enkhtuvshin (Wildlife Conservation decades. There has been relatively little Society); Mr Aruinbaatar (WCS), Dr Batkhuag Spill-over of PPR from livestock to wildlife (VABA – State Vets); Front: Left to Right: Mr. effective engagement from governments conirms the urgent need for more joined- Tsend-Auysh (WCS); Mr. Oktyabri (FAO) and Mr. and the international donor community to Dead male saiga in the Khuisen Gobi of Western Batsaikhan (Saiga Protection Team Darvi Soum - stop it. Mongolia with a staf member from the State up management of diseases between WWF) © Dr Munkhduuren (State Central Vet Lab). Central Veterinary Laboratory, Dr Mundkuuren. livestock and wildlife. There is very little Despite warnings of the risk of PPR to © Richard Kock time being given to the serious threat that which killed saigas in Kazakhstan, PPR saiga antelopes since 2014 (Kock et al is highly preventable through control suppressed the disease but failed to stop epidemic livestock disease poses to wild 2014), its discovery in Mongolian livestock ungulates, already under huge pressure of livestock disease (particularly mass the spread of the virus. It spilled into the in September 2016 did not ring alarm from grazing competition and poaching. vaccination). small surviving population of Mongolian bells about risks to saigas. When it was This epidemic has driven this Mongolian saiga (Saiga tatarica mongolica) in the With only a few surviving unaffected discovered in livestock, technical advisers subspecies close to the brink of extinction, Khuisen Gobi desert by 22nd December, saigas, with argali, ibex and goitered from the UN’s Food and Agriculture and unlike the haemorrhagic septicaemia 2016. Saigas were vulnerable because gazelle dying, and around two million Organisation correctly recommended they were already squeezed into a Mongolian gazelles potentially susceptible an emergency vaccination programme, restricted habitat competing with camels, to the disease, this matter is a national which included 10.4 million sheep and horses, sheep and goats for limited and international emergency. The goats. This was completed, but no pasture, the temperatures were below Mongolian people are no strangers to preventative action was taken to protect -30 degrees Celsius and snow was falling. hardship and they have a strong ethic for wildlife. The vaccination campaign They succumbed rapidly to the virus. conservation. With collaboration and the right strategy, this issue could be resolved, The FAO took immediate action and but it will need strong political will, support commissioned a crisis management from the international conservation mission together with the World community and donor funds. Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The team was deployed in the ield by 18th Acknowledgements: The UN FAO CMC, January, in an area two days drive from Mongolian government and communities Ulaanbaatar. They reported a full-blown in Ulan Bataar and Altai Gobi, in particular epidemic. By the end of January, clinical the dedicated wildlife, veterinary and cases and deaths were reported across NGO staff; Wildlife Conservation Society Saigas antelope being thrown into a pit and most of the saiga range, with half of the and WWF, the Saiga Conservation burned during the PPR epidemic in the Gobi saiga population dead by April (about Starving saiga picked up during the epidemic Alliance, wildlife disease researchers and © Richard Kock 5000 animals). The team conirmed that © Richard Kock the Royal Veterinary College.

24 25 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Articles (cont)

Historical range, extirpation and prospects for reintroduction of Saiga in China Shaopeng Cui1,2, E. J. Milner-Gulland3, Navinder J. Singh4, Hongjun Chu5, Chunwang Li1,2, Jing Chen1,2, and Zhigang Jiang1,2* 1 - Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; 2 - University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; 3 - Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; 4 - Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå; 5 - College of Resources and Environment Sciences, Xinjiang University, Xinjiang, China *Corresponding author: Zhigang Jiang, [email protected] Saigas were once widely distributed in saiga population in Kalmykia in 1997. northwest China. Records of the use Currently, the population at WEWBC of Saiga horns in traditional Chinese has increased to over 170 individuals. medicine prescriptions can be traced However, founder events, bottlenecks back 2,000 years. In the 1950s, Saiga and inbreeding have resulted in populations declined rapidly to low genetic diversity in this captive extinction in China due to overhunting, population, which, together with habitat reduction and blockage of harsh winter conditions and epidemic Figure 2 Predicted habitat suitability for Saiga in spring, summer and winter in China. migratory routes. In order to restore the disease, has led to large luctuations in The figure implies that a big challenge for reintroducing Saiga antelopes to China is non- overlapping seasonal ranges, which means the saiga needs a large habitat. The numbers species, in 1987 the Wuwei Endangered population size. The number of saigas at indicate locations mentioned in this study: 1, Alashankou; 2, Tacheng; 3, Jimunai-Habahe; Wildlife Breeding Centre (WEWBC, now WEWBC once decreased by 77%, so only 4, Aibi Lake; 5, Balkhash Lake; 6, Alakol Lake; 7, Zaysan Lake; 8, Manas Lake. called Gansu Endangered Animal nine individuals survived in 2000. Protection Centre) was established in So far no reintroduction of saigas sites is necessary. However, compared populations. Moreover, it remains Gansu Province, China. Eleven adult to the wild has been undertaken. with other regions in Central Asia, controversial which subspecies of saiga saigas from San Diego Zoo and Berlin Before a reintroduction programme is virtually no study has explicitly examined was historically distributed in China. Taie Zoo were introduced to form planned and execution implemented, the former saiga range in China or Some studies have stated that the the founder herd in 1988–1991, and an assessment of historical distribution developed a timeline of its decline. Mongolian saiga subspecies was found one calf was added from the wild patterns and potential reintroduction Also, no studies have been done in China, either as the only subspecies, to determine how historical saiga or alongside the nominate subspecies. populations moved seasonally between China and its neighbouring countries, In a paper published in Scientiic and whether the current habitat Reports in 2017, we delineated the conditions can sustain reintroduced historical distribution and potential reintroduction areas of saigas in China, using a literature review, interviews and predictive modelling. We found a total of 28 historical records, which covered the time period from the end of the 19th century to the 1950s and only related to Saiga tatarica tatarica. Most of the seasonally suitable habitats for reintroduction predicted by Maxent® were non-overlapping; in particular the Figure 1 Historical distribution of saiga in China (solid black line). The hatched area Figure 3 Changes in saiga population size over represents the historical range of Mongolian Saiga. Notice that the WEWBC (Wuwei time in Wuwei Endangered Wildlife Breeding potential wintering range in the Ili river Endangered Wildlife Breeding Centre) is well outside the Saiga’s range in China. Center valley was isolated from the spring and

26 27 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Articles (cont)

area due to its low habitat suitability and Although this group of saigas lives 170 km the difference in environmental variables. south of the main habitat of the Volga- Furthermore, we infer that two different Ural population (fig. 1), they definitely movement patterns existed historically live a settled life, which is supported by (regular migration versus nomadic data from GPS collars placed on some wandering). Our results demonstrate the of the antelopes. This was done by the challenges of restoring a free-ranging, Association for the Conservation of self-sustaining saiga population in China. Biodiversity of Kazakhstan with the We recommend setting up of additional financial support of the North Caspian breeding centres in the protected Operating Company in 2015 and 2016. Saiga in the Wuwei Endangered Wildlife Breeding areas within the potential saiga range Centre (WEWBC, now called Gansu Endangered Signals diminished in number over these Animal Protection Centre) © Zhigang Jiang in northern Xinjiang, and developing two years due to wolf predation. Cur- summer areas by the Tianshan Mountains. a national action plan to provide a rently, stable signals are coming from only framework for the future recovery of the one individual a female collared in 2016. A saiga at the hunting farm in Atyrau province, Most of the bioclimatic variables were species. February 2015 © Jasulan Kuzhekov signiicantly different between the former The group is not completely isolated, as, Until May 2013 only a few people knew saiga range in China and the current Note: You can access the full article according to Centre staff, in December range of the Betpak-dala population. published in the journal Scientiic Reports 2008, 9 males from the main population about the saigas in the Centre, securing peace for the increasing population. WEWBC was not in an ideal reintroduction at: http://www.nature.com came from the northern areas of the Volga-Ural interfluve to join the group. At Things changed for the worse when the Conserving a small group of saigas within the Volga-Ural population in the same time, such contacts are provincial newspaper ‘Ak Jayik’ published Atyrau province, Kazakhstan obviously quite rare. This is indirectly an article, in which Asiltek Ispusinov, confirmed by the normal death rate Director of Game Husbandry, shared 1 2 Vladimir Terentyev , Mark Pestov * Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of among the saigas in the Centre in 2010- his experience on saiga conservation. Kazakhstan; 2 - “Dront” Centre for Ecology, Russia 11, when the Volga-Ural population Poaching began in the area, facilitated *Corresponding author: Mark Pestov, [email protected] decreased catastrophically due to by a network of dirt roads, and the Over 50 years ago a hunting farm (game Unfortunately, poor technical equipment disease in the calving area. population size dropped. December husbandry centre) was founded in an has never allowed the Centre to carry 2014 was fatal for the Centre’s saigas; in In the distant future, saigas from this area of 50 ha on the northern shore of out a proper saiga census. Normally, group, which is not engaged in long one session poachers took most of the the Caspian Sea in Isatay District, Atyrau staff roughly calculated saiga numbers population. Unfortunately, the criminals seasonal migrations, could become a Province, Kazakhstan (ig. 1). The farm’s using camels to approach the animals; were never found. The saiga’s protection valuable source of genetic diversity for northern boundary lies about 30 km south the Centre is surrounded by numerous reintroduction to other parts of the became much worse with the premature of the Atyrau-Astrakhan highway and cattle farms, and its unfenced territory is species’ historical habitat, as well as for death of one of the Centre’s best rangers, is marked only with information signs. frequented by sheep, horses and camels, Gaynolla Izimovich Shaymuratov. research on captive breeding. The territory is a plain covered mostly which is why saigas were not alarmed by by wormwood, grass and glasswort, the camels’ presence. A group of saigas (9 The Centre’s researchers believe that the Currently, the Centre is facing inancial with large areas of reed and individual individuals) was observed on 5 December favourable factors allowing the antelopes challenges, which aggravate its tamarisk shrubs recorded along the 1995. The largest number (around 350 to stay in this area include its location on a problems with protection. To ensure proper protection, a series of urgent seashore and in depressions. Apart individuals) was recorded in 2011, when relatively isolated peninsula, the existence of from saiga, the Centre is inhabited by the antelopes formed 8-9 small groups. the fresh-water Zaburun irrigation canal steps is needed, including the formation of two ranger groups enabling 24 hour other mammal species, such as boar, The saiga population currently inhabiting hare, wolf, fox, corsac fox and raccoon the Centre is 30-40 individuals (estimated lowing all along the shore, which saigas protection, 4 vehicles and additional dog. The bird community consists in May 2017). According to staff, for over use for drinking, suficient food, and the equipment such as GPSes, dashboard mainly of aquatic and semi-aquatic 20 years these saigas have stayed within Centre’s staff’s good performance of their cameras, nightvision goggles, binoculars duties. They conscientiously protect the area, species. However, no speciic botanic or the territory, living compactly on a plot and camera traps. It is vital to erect control the wolf population and regularly zoological research has been carried out 16km long protruding wedge-like into the observation towers to monitor the animals. in the area so far. sea, with its northern border 25 km long. provide hay as supplementary feed in winter. These resources being available, we could 28 29 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Updates (cont) increase the group size to several hundred devotion to his job he was elected head conservation that was held from 5th to construction of linear infrastructure on individuals and, in future, develop of the Society of Hunters and Fishermen of 10th May 2002 in Elista, the Republic of the saiga’s migratory routes, including ecotourism in the area, for which it would Atyrau Province. Under Asiltek Ispusinov’s Kalmykia. (http://biodiversity.ru/programs/ the border fence between Kazakhstan be helpful to repair the Astrakhan-Arytau management, the Centre’s workers are saigak/meeting.html). The period from and Uzbekistan. This period can be road. willing to continue doing their best to 2002 to 2006 involved negotiations with described as a phase of joint responses, conserve their saigas; however, they need the oficial representatives of the saiga as many actors jointly developed and In conclusion, we note that it is due help and would be happy to collaborate range countries, culminating in the signing implemented urgent responses to these to Asiltek Ispusinov’s great efforts that with anyone concerned with studying, of the Saiga MoU and oficial formation problems. saigas continue to live in this Centre. popularising and protection of saigas. of the international regime for saiga In recognition of his enthusiasm and conservation. From 2006 until 2016 was Analysis a period of the regime’s geographical The development and elaboration The role of international institutions in the restoration of saiga antelope and taxonomic extension as well as of the international regime for saiga populations coordination between many cooperating conservation enabled mechanisms Irina Novak, [email protected] Freiburg University, Germany organizations. to develop that became important Introduction institutions as rules, law and norms that I next focussed on the three saiga components of the saiga conservation deine “rules of the game”. International populations in Kazakhstan; the Ural, process. The CMS’s Overview Report on Recent saiga conservation processes institutions that are created to address Betpak-Dala and Ustiurt populations. the saiga’s conservation status regularly have been in place for over 20 years. a speciic problem (like the saiga MoU) The implementation of measures for presents updated information about Although the species is still categorised the species’ state throughout its range form an international regime. To put the their conservation can also be divided as critically endangered, there is no provisions of an international regime into into several stages. The initial phase and its most urgent threats. The Medium- doubt that its state has considerably practice, additional mechanisms are lasted from the 1990s until 2003, during Term International Work Programme is improved compared to the late 1990s. developed, which inluence the actions which national hunting bans were agreed every ive years based on the This is the result of numerous efforts that of national agencies, NGOs, scientiic introduced and NGOs started their irst Overview Report. This Work Programme, many people have invested in anti- institutions, individual experts, etc. conservation projects. The next three in its turn, serves as a common framework poaching activities, development of the that allows the actors to coordinate years were a phase of transformation protected area network, implementation Methods when the irst national programme for their activities and thus increase their of conservation and educational projects, saiga conservation was developed and effectiveness. research and monitoring. I researched the saiga conservation process that unfolded between 1994 the funding of anti-poaching activities The development of communication and An important milestone in improving and 2016, by analysed the documents increased. Simultaneously, the number accountability tools is also a result of the saiga population status was the entering prepared for the meetings of signatories of initiatives implemented by NGOs was functioning of international institutions. into force of the Memorandum of to the Saiga MoU, the documents growing and the Altyn Dala Conservation These include national and project reports Understanding concerning Conservation, produced by CMS, CITES and the IUCN, Initiative was formed (ADCI http://acbk.kz/ as well as the publication Saiga News. Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Saiga News articles, and publications in ru/pages/6339.html). Thus, the approach to Regular information exchange helps Saiga Antelope (the Saiga MoU), which scientiic journals. Interviews with saiga the problem changed signiicantly in that the people involved to learn from each was signed by all range states and is conservation were a key source of period, with active conservation measures other’s experience and motivates them to coordinated by the Convention on information. starting. achieve better results. Migratory Species. I explored the MoU’s No less important is the contribution Results The next period was approximately from role in the restoration of saiga populations; 2007 to 2010. This was a time of growth of international institutions to the the results may be useful for restoration of Several stages can be distinguished and strengthening of the activities development of measures to control other migratory species. in the international actions for saiga implemented by all involved actors, disease outbreaks and mitigate the Theoretical basis conservation and restoration. The mostly aimed at ighting poaching as negative consequences of linear irst stage was the late 1990s to 2002, the main threat to the saiga. Since the infrastructure development. This includes The study is based on regime theory, focused on the formulation of the early 2010s, however, additional threats involving experts, searching for funding, which investigates the functioning of international regime’s provisions. It led have emerged; the mass mortality support for research and development of international institutions. It understands up to the international meeting for saiga events of 2010-2013 and 2015 and the solutions. 30 31 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017 Updates (cont)

One of the key results is the contribution one of the key factors that supports saiga A ToC typically functions according I developed a series of ToCs based on the of international institutions to problem conservation. Important factors affecting to a sequential logic that runs from SCA’s work in Uzbekistan, by collecting framing, or understanding the decrease this process include; the potentially high activities through to impacts (see Figure perspectives and feedback from experts in saiga numbers as an urgent social economic signiicance of the species, the 1). This pathway is underpinned by a in interviews and reviewing the SCA’s and ecological problem. That was timely start of research into the species series of assumptions which need to be strategic plans and other documents facilitated by listing the species as and raising the alarm about the problem articulated. and reports. Figure 2 shows one of the critically endangered on the IUCN Red of its rapid decline; and the active work Figure 1. Diagram of the sequential pathways of a ToC, which focuses on List. Finally, the organization of regular of the many actors, including state components of a ToC: reducing the pressure on saigas from meetings under the MoU supports the agencies, NGOs, research institutions, poaching through activities involving law work of the informal saiga conservation experts. enforcement. It shows the hypothesised community by increasing cooperation pathway from inputs to our desired I suggest that it would be worthwhile and helping them to combine efforts impact. for implementation of joint projects. The exploring the possibility of further Key ToC definitions: recent decision about the extension of increasing the number of participants in Activities Speciic actions undertaken to mitigate a threat or support an the ADCI in Kazakhstan to cover all three the saiga conservation process, irstly by opportunity. populations is among the most striking increasing the direct involvement of local people. examples of such collaboration. Outputs The immediate and measurable products of the activities of an intervention. Thus, my analysis demonstrates that the In order to receive the full report of the study, please contact [email protected]. Outcomes the intermediate result that is brought about by producing preceding functioning of international institutions is project outputs. Trialling the Theory of Change approach to impact evaluation in Impacts The wider and longer term effects of an intervention and the conservation using the Saiga Conservation Alliance’s work in Uzbekistan as contribution the intervention makes to broader goals. a case study Assumptions Statements that explain both the connection between preconditions for long-term change that occur in the early and intermediate stages Kirsty Simkin, [email protected] University of Oxford of the change process, and the expectations about how and why There is a need for high quality impact lead to a long-term goal and the proposed interventions will bring them about. evaluation in conservation biology. In connections between these activities Assumptions for pathway 1: response to this need there is a growing and the outcomes of an intervention body of work on how best to evaluate or programme. The ToC process is a Code Assumption conservation interventions. However, theory-based approach to planning, A1.1 People care about the opinions of their communities often these methods are too time- implementing or evaluating change at an consuming or resource-heavy for small individual, organisational or community A1.2 Interagency cooperation is helpful to law enforcement NGOs to carry out. The Theory of Change level. If seen as an on-going process of A1.3 Better trained and equipped guards do not use their advanced equipment for approach has the potential to be a useful discussion-based analysis and learning, the poaching or other purposes and feasible approach for small NGOs. As ToC approach has the potential to provide A1.4 Training increases knowledge of participants part of my undergraduate degree I used powerful insights to support programme A1.5 Being celebrated in communities increases pride in job and subsequently a the Saiga Conservation Alliance’s work in design, strategy, implementation, desire to work harder Uzbekistan to trial the Theory of Change evaluation and impact assessment. The A1.6 Motivation of law enforcement increasing is coupled with suficient capacity approach to impact evaluation. approach is communicated through of law enforcement diagrams and narratives which are The simplest way to deine a Theory of A1.7 Poachers have not similarly strengthened their capacity and equipment, updated at regular intervals. ToCs may be Change (ToC) is as “a theory of how negating any gain through an ongoing ‘arms race’. developed and used at various points in and why an initiative works”. More fully A1.8 the lifecycle of an initiative or programme, Relative value of poaching is not so high as to make increased risk of poaching articulated, this can be understood as a worth it way to describe the set of assumptions from planning an idea through to A1.9 Disincentive for poaching are larger than incentives that explain both the mini-steps that implementation, delivery and review. 32 33 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017

Updates (cont) New publications

Jürgensen, J., D.G. Drucker, A.J. Stuart, M. Schneider, B. Buuveibaatar, H. Bocherens. 2017. Evolution of the diet and habitat of the saiga antelope over the late Quaternary using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios. Quaternary Science Reviews. 160: 150-161. The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) is one of the typical late Pleistocene species of the cold and arid mammoth steppe that covered a large area of northern hemisphere. The species is currently endangered and persists only in small areas of the Central Asian steppe and desert ecosystems. To examine how different their diet and habitat were from those observed nowadays, the research team compared the composition of carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the collagen from 76 fossilized and 52 recent bones and hairs of saiga antelopes. The survey results suggest the modern saiga is occupying just one of the diverse habitats they used in the past. Therefore, the extant saiga is not a refugee species conined to a suboptimal habitat. During Skull of Pleistocene Saiga, https://phys.org/ the late Pleistocene, the saiga occupied news/2017-03-saiga-antelopes-flexible-thought. a separate niche compared with the html#jCp other ungulates of the mammoth steppe. However, this species could also adapt to that does not correspond to a habitat- a lichen-dominated diet normally seen in tracking episode. Hence, the realized reindeer, leading to an isotopic overlap niche currently observed for the saiga is between saigas and reindeer in south- reduced compared with their potential western France and Alaska around the capacity for adaptation, a crucially Figure 2. One pathway of the Theory of Change developed for decreasing pressure on saigas from Last Glacial Maximum. This adaptation important factor for the conservation of poaching via support for law enforcement allowed a geographical expansion this endangered species. I also identiied assumptions for each step the potential this approach has as Olga V. Sibiryakova, Ilya A. Volodin, Roland Frey, Steffen Zuther, Talgat B. Kisebaev, of the framework. Assumptions explain the a framework for communication, Albert R. Salemgareev, Elena V. Volodina 2017 Remarkable vocal identity in wild-living mother underlying logic behind our expectations planning and learning, and in particular and neonate saiga antelopes: a specialization for breeding in huge aggregations? Sci Nat 104: 11. of the connections between different for setting priorities for future data components of the pathway of change. collection and evaluation. The ToC The saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica) is one those observed nowadays, the research Ideally assumptions should be supported approach is intended to be an evolving of the typical late Pleistocene species team compared the composition of by scientiic research, best practice or tool that is tested and improved over of the cold and arid mammoth steppe carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the expert knowledge. It is also possible to test time and there is potential for the that covered a large area of northern collagen from 76 fossilized and 52 recent assumptions with ield research, depending approach to be utilised by the SCA in hemisphere. The species is currently bones and hairs of saiga antelopes. The on funding and time constraints. the future. endangered and persists only in small survey results suggest the modern saiga areas of the Central Asian steppe and is occupying just one of the diverse Using the ToC approach to look at To read my full report please go to http:// desert ecosystems. To examine how habitats they used in the past. Therefore, the SCA’s work in Uzbekistan showed www.iccs.org.uk/sites/www.iccs.org.uk different their diet and habitat were from the extant saiga is not a refugee species 34 35 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017

Saiga heroes conined to a suboptimal habitat. During aggregations. A series of individual nasal Today we interview Buyanaa Сhimeddorj, Conservation director of WWF the late Pleistocene, the saiga occupied and oral contact calls of mothers and Mongolia. For more than 10 years Chimeddorj has led numerous conservation a separate niche compared with the calves was selected from automated projects in his country, but saigas play a very special role in his life and other ungulates of the mammoth steppe. recordings near hiding calves on the professional career. However, this species could also adapt to saiga breeding grounds in Northern saiga and gained a great interest in a lichen-dominated diet normally seen in Kazakhstan during the synchronized birth reindeer, leading to an isotopic overlap period of 30,000 calving females. We conservation science and management between saigas and reindeer in south- used 168 nasal calls from 18 mothers, 192 of natural resources. Based on the results western France and Alaska around the oral calls from 21 mothers, 78 nasal calls of this feasibilty study, WWF-Mongolia Last Glacial Maximum. This adaptation from 16 calves, and 197 oral calls from successfully raised substantial inancial allowed a geographical expansion 22 calves. Discriminant function analysis help from the MAVA Foundation for that does not correspond to a habitat- (DFA), based on six acoustic variables, Mongolian saiga conservation. tracking episode. Hence, the realized accurately classiied individual identity for Editor: What is your usual day like? niche currently observed for the saiga is 99.4% of oral calls of 18 mothers, for 89.3% reduced compared with their potential of nasal calls of 18 mothers, and for 94.4% B.Ch.: I give professional advice to the capacity for adaptation, a crucially of oral calls of 18 calves. Variables mainly saiga ranger network through their important factor for the conservation of responsible for an animal›s vocal identity leader and ensure that they are carrying this endangered species. were the fundamental frequency and the out coordinated and science-based second and third formants (vocal tract monitoring and conservation work. In Saiga antelopes Saiga tatarica resonances). The strong vocal identity of order to do this, I felt the need to acquire tatarica give birth in large aggregations, mothers and calves suggests a powerful Editor: When did you irst become an intimate network of scientists, local and offspring follow the herd soon potential for mutual mother-offspring interested in saigas? wildlife managers and rangers. In addition after birth. Herding is advantageous recognition in dense aggregations to my work as a biologist, I also take care B.Ch.: I was born and spent my childhood as anti-predator strategy; however, of saiga antelopes as an important of planning of activities and managing in Uvs province, Western Mongolia, where communication between mothers component of their survival strategy. budgets and project implementation and newborn calves is dificult in large we have the most pristine zones with rich reports, which I consider just as important. biodiversity. At that time, my curiosity and fascination with nature started. After that, Editor: What are the fundamental my interest grew so much I decided to problems in your work? pursue biology at the National University B.Ch.: The Mongolian saiga antelope is of Mongolia and become interested in a highly vulnerable subspecies. The total Mongolia’s rare and endangered animals, population numbered 15,000 individuals including the Mongolian saiga antelope. Editor: When did you start to work on saiga research and conservation?

B.Ch.: In 2005, I was invited by WWF- Mongolia to help them to explain the achievements of their saiga conservation project to a representative from a donor organization. Later, in 2006, I was invited to carry out a feasibility study on the restoration of the Mongolian saiga in the Great Lakes Basin of Western Mongolia. For this, I gained knowledge about the Saiga females with calves at a watering hole in the Stepnoi Reserve © Eugeny Polonsky ecology and biology of the Mongolian Collarig the saiga antelope © B. Batsaikhan 36 37 Saiga Conservation Alliance Saiga News | Issue 22, summer-autumn 2017

as of 2014, which has increased over the Editor: What has changed over the time the Mongolian saiga from becoming past years after a population crash at the you have worked in species conservation, extinct? start of the century (caused by a dzud, a and what are the current trends in natural disaster, in the winter of 2001-2002, conservation? B.Ch.: Given the epidemiology of PPR and its airborne spread, saiga aggregations of leaving only 750 animals). B.Ch.: Since 1998, with inancial assistance several hundred animals are likely to be Key threats to the Mongolian saiga’s from the MAVA and other sources, WWF- affected for as long as 3 months after the survival include poaching and the illegal Mongolia has implemented several index case, which means the outbreak horn trade, competition with livestock projects on saiga conservation that could be expected to last until the end for critical habitats, climate change and have reversed the saiga population of spring. Therefore, the main preventive the road network. In addition, sadly, the decrease for the irst time in the past two measure is to strengthen law enforcement fate of the Mongolia saiga is currently in decades. These results are inspiring but and conduct regular inspections. This jeopardy from an epidemic of peste-des- the foundation we have built is still fragile is because, the poachers and horn petits-ruminants (PPR), a viral disease of and external pressures from unsustainable collectors are intensifying their activities Teaching monitoring methodology for saiga ruminants. rangers © B. Buuveibaatar livestock husbandry practices, demand to take advantage of the mass death of for saiga horn, disease, natural disasters the saiga. Horns and body parts collected Editor: What can be done to remove agency cooperation. The poaching and lack of knowledge could easily erode from dead carcasses will likely increase impediments in your work? and trade of horn situation is still volatile these initial successes. the risk of the pathogen spreading more as shown the poaching cased in last B.Ch.: A suitable grazing regime and quickly and into new areas. Furthermore, several years. Education and public Editor: What do you think about the reduced numbers of livestock are key all livestock must be immunised and the awareness programme should primarily current Mongolian saiga death due to responses to the increasing impact ongoing situation monitored continuously. focus on changing herders’ attitudes PPR and what should be done to protect of climate change on both Saiga towards adopting sustainable pasture survival and herders’ livelihoods. Key to management. Another special emphasis decreasing the livestock populations shall be put on addressing illegal will be the identiication of market poaching and trade of saigas. Acknowledgements opportunities for livestock commodities (e.g. meat and skins). Therefore, we To ensure the long term survival of the We would like to express our deep gratitude to all the people whose donations of should raise additional funds for piloting species, it’s crucial to have more than money and time support the work of the Saiga Conservation Alliance. We particularly market-based options for sustainable one population to prevent a single natural thank the WCN staff and volunteers for their support and advice, and members of the pasture management without affecting extreme event (e.g. harsh winter and public in the USA and worldwide for their generous donations to our recent appeal herders’ livelihoods. Furthermore, infectious disease) wiping out the entire concerning Mongolian Saiga die off. We are grateful to the organisations that have environmentally-friendly pasture population. Therefore, we should rebuild supported this issue of the newsletter – WCN and WWF-Mongolia. management has started in selected new populations in former habitats to areas; the community group in Darvi and establish a meta-population structure Durgun (Shargiin Gobi, Durgun steppe) to safeguard the subspecies from the restored four wells to improve water extinction. availability for people, livestock and wildlife, reducing conlict for open water Editor: What do you consider the best in core Saiga habitats but these local thing in your work? initiatives are not suficient to solve the B.Ch.: Involvement of local stakeholders, problem throughout the saiga’s range. particularly the support of local herders We need to continue to support the for conservation, is crucial. Participatory volunteer saiga ranger network (SRN) planning and the participatory decision- and the Mobile Anti-poaching unit making process is as important as (MAPU) and inter law enforcement reaching the conservation goal itself.

38 39 Saiga Conservation Alliance

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