Kazakhstan's saiga population reaches 4.69 million, raising management questions

September 12, 2026 at 03:30 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakhstan's saiga antelope population reached 4,689,000 after the spring count, according to the Forestry and Wildlife Committee. The West Kazakhstan region reported 18,874 saiga carcasses disposed of since early 2026 amid disease and mass miscarriages. The committee continues monitoring while the Ministry of Agriculture investigates the causes of mortality.

Key Facts

The spring 2026 count recorded 4,689,000 saigas in Kazakhstan, including 2.7 million in the Ural population, 1.87 million in Betpak-Dala, and 119,000 on Ustyurt.
Since the start of 2026, 18,874 saiga carcasses have been disposed of in West Kazakhstan Region.
Natural mortality among saiga females of all ages is about 10 percent, while mortality among males that actively participated in mating ranges from 25 to 50 percent.
In 2025, 108,458 saigas were removed in West Kazakhstan Region, compared with 7,777 in 2024 and 19,699 in 2023.

Population Count

The Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources reported that the spring count, conducted before the calving period, recorded 4,689,000 saigas. The Ural population accounted for 2.7 million animals, the Betpak-Dala population for 1,870,000, and the Ustyurt population for 119,000. The committee noted that the count was carried out before the start of the calving period.

Mortality and Disease

In West Kazakhstan Region, saigas suffered from diseases this year, leading to increased mortality and a reduced birth rate due to mass miscarriages. The committee stated that identifying the causes of disease and death, as well as quarantine measures, falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, which is conducting comprehensive measures including constant monitoring of the epizootic situation. Natural mortality among females of all age categories is about 10 percent, while mortality among males that did not participate in the rut is also about 10 percent. Mortality among males that actively participated in mating ranges from 25 to 50 percent, and mortality of young in the first year of life ranges from 50 to 60 percent depending on weather conditions. Since the beginning of 2026, 18,874 saiga carcasses have been disposed of in West Kazakhstan Region.

Population Management

In recent years, West Kazakhstan Region has practiced saiga population regulation, with 19,699 animals removed in 2023, 7,777 in 2024, and 108,458 in 2025. The committee emphasized that the saiga removal limit is not a planned harvest volume but a biologically permissible upper limit calculated based on population structure. The actual removal volume will be determined based on the situation, infrastructure, economic feasibility, population status, and Kazakhstan's international obligations. The committee conducts continuous monitoring of saiga populations and carries out awareness-raising work among the local population about reporting dead saigas to Okhotzooprom inspectors.