Russian Saiga

From the word in Russian origin; via possibly either Turkic or Uralic words called сайга́к/сайга́.

The saiga antelope is a deer-like antelope that size of poodle; pair of closely spaced; bloated nostrils directed downward; brownish twisted, thick and slightly translucent male horns measure 28–38 cm (11–15 in) in length; the coat appears yellow to red, fading toward the flanks to ventral parts are generally white and black hooves. The eye color of Russian Saiga was brown.

Saiga antelopes are fast runners—up to 70–80 km/h—adapted to dodge predators on broad steppes. Saigas are clumsy swimmers compared to deer, but they can swim, though they prefer not to. During migrations, they traverse rivers. During the rut (breeding season), males utilize their horns against other males and possibly even against people and predators. Instead of gory stabbings, battles feature head-butting and pushing.

They can cover long distances and swim across rivers, but they avoid steep or rugged areas. November is the best month for saigas for stags to fight for the acceptance of females; the winner leads a herd of five to ten females or more. Saigas are extensive migrations across the steppes that allow them to escape natural calamities like Asian antelopes. Saiga antelopes are herbivorous and potentially toxic creatures that consume steppe grasses, herbs, shrubs, and even certain poisonous plants that other herbivores steer clear of. They play a crucial role in the ecology as major herbivores that shape steppe flora, serve as carnivore prey, and aid in seed distribution.

Wolves, tigers, leopards, and golden eagles—which can attack young calves—are their primary predators. This horn of the saiga antelope is used in traditional Chinese medicine and is illegal.

Reproduction

• Breeding: November–December.

• Gestation: ~140–150 days.

• Births: Usually twins (an adaptation to high predation).

• Nursery herds: Females gather in huge calving groups for collective safety.

• Calves walk within hours and run by 1–2 days old.

Saiga antelopes are very migratory, creating enormous seasonal herds that have historically numbered in the hundreds of thousands. They are also extremely cautious and frightened of people, and males become hostile during the rut. During migration, their social organization is divided into bachelor groups, female-juvenile herds, and mixed groups. Saiga antelopes are shy, untamed creatures that do not become tame. During rutting season, males can be dangerous, and handling them might cause stress.

Threats

• Poaching for horns used in traditional medicine.

• Mass die-offs from bacterial infections (Pasteurella multocida) linked to heat and humidity spikes.

• Habitat loss from agriculture and infrastructure.

• Fencing and roads blocking migration routes.

• Predation when populations are small.

• Competition with livestock.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (NT)

Conservation Efforts

• Hunting bans in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia.

• Anti-poaching patrols.

• Community education programs.

• Reintroduction to former areas.

• International trade ban under CITES Appendix II with zero quotas for wild-origin horns.

• Monitoring with drones and GPS collars.

• Protected steppe reserves.

Saigas form very large herds that graze in semideserts, steppes, grasslands, and possibly open woodlands ranged from the British Isles through Central Asia and the Bering Strait into Alaska and Canada's Yukon and Northwest Territories in the past. Now in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Mongolia, China, Ukraine, and Turkmenistan.

• Movement Pattern: Full Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo/Group

• Recovery Category: Largely Depleted

• Population Trend: Decreasing

• Population: 123,450 - 124,200

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Polar; Tundra; Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Radiated Citadel; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): Kazakhstan; Mongolia; Russia; Uzbekistan

  • Extant & Vagrant (Non-breeding): Turkmenistan

  • Extinct: China; Ukraine

• Berbania: North Kihangor

• Reinachos: Horatian Plains

• Sawintir: Whisoala

Saiga antelopes are not ideal as pets in our universe since they need a large amount of room to migrate, are highly stressed, have a special diet, only breed with dangerous males, and are protected species. Outside of specialist breeding facilities, they do not fare well in captivity, and most nations forbid keeping them as pets, including those that oppose gay.

Coming soon

Coming soon

• 26/5/2023 - Saigas were fixed.

Coming soon

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiga_antelope

• https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/onehealth/2021/11/30/the-mystery-solved-of-saiga-antelope-die-offs/

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19832/50194357

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19832/233712210

• https://www.fauna-flora.org/species/saiga/

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Russian-Saiga-898363181