Railway and fence new threats for the Saiga : Wildlife Extra News - Kazakhstan’s saiga threatened by new border fence and railway
Mystery dead of nearly 500 Saigas : Wildlife Extra News - New mass die-off of Saiga antelopes in Kazakhstan
Are there any updates on further captive populations? I remember reading something on here about Tallinn.
"Experts are scrambling to understand how almost 120,000 saiga antelopes have died off in Central Asia at an unprecedented rate, harming recent efforts to protect the endangered species." Mass deaths of endangered antelope stumps scientists | Toronto Star
In just over 2 weeks, and counting. A state of emergency for the species really needs to be declared with immediate action. With 120 000 dead, how much will it matter if 300 are taken into captivity? small groups can be distributed (temporarily) in large suitable reserves on a semi-wild basis (the reserves would obviously need to be quickly identified) and small numbers sent to zoos who have had success with them in the past, or which are willing to host the animals. Askaniya Nova might not be a suitable destination in case the mystery pathogen is introduced accidentally.
I thought this is normal for Saiga, that they undergo mass die-offs on a cyclical basis, and then the population slowly builds up again, like Lemmings. So what is new?
I think the difference may be that this wave has a 100% mortality rate. I'm not sure if the other factors (inc. unknown pathogen/mechanism, speed of spread and acceleration of spread) are new. Good news, however, as UNEP confirm that the die-out appears to be coming to a halt: UN releases statement on saiga mass deaths as event appears to be ending | Wildlife News
Another article about the recent deaths : Scientists probe mysterious wave of antelope deaths - BBC News
This is horrifying and action is needed immediately, it may be part of a natural cycle (and not a Kazakh rocket crash, that had to be officially denied). The time is right for a back up European (western) population.
Scientists are unsure of the causes of a mass death of saiga over the period of only 4 days http://news.yahoo.com/60-000-antelop...122940463.html
Up-date about the mass death : http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/03/s...f-saigas-gone-in-mysterious-die-off.html?_r=1
A little hope for the Saiga : Signs of hope for saiga after mass die-off | Fauna & Flora International
Really interesting reintroduction, didn't know that the saiga hadn't been seen in China since the 50's
