25
Figure 4:
Saigas have been hunted since prehistoric times and today poaching remains the primary threat to this critically endan-
gered species. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Saiga populations crashed by more than 95% within a decade. While
a number of Saiga populations are starting to stabilize, three continue to be in a precarious state (North-West Pre-Caspian, Ural
and Ustiurt populations).
Lake Balqash
Aral Sea
Caspian
Sea
TURKMENISTAN
IRAN
AZERBAIJAN
UZBEKISTAN
KYRGYZSTAN
KAZAKHSTAN
RUSSIA
RUSSIA
North-West
Pre-Caspian
CHINA
MONGOLIA
Saiga antelope population
Terrestrial protected areas
Caspian
Sea
Overall direction of migrations
(North in summer, South in winter)
Source: ACBK, 2011; WWF Mongolia, Web-based GIS database on
biological diversity of Mongolia; UNEP-WCMC, Protected Planet web
database; Russian Committee for the UNESCO MAB Programme.
Saiga antelope populations
Ural
Ustiurt
Betpak-dala
Mongolia
