Saiga numbers double over last 5 years
Jul 3, 2013 21:46:13 GMT
Post by Fossa on Jul 3, 2013 21:46:13 GMT
Just a short post to cheer you all up. (The story, that is, not the fact that it's short!) 
blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2013/06/27/saiga-success-endangered-antelope/
Numbers of the critically endangered Saiga antelope are starting to recover - having doubled in the last five years. Saiga are native to Kazakhstan and nearby countries in central Asia.
In the last few decades, numbers have been decimated due to uncontrolled poaching - their meat and horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine (it seems like everything is.
) Then in 2010 there was a massive outbreak of pasteurellosis, causing lung infections and deaths.
However, after international efforts were made to preserve saiga habitat and reduce the impact of new roads and other infrastructure, the population has grown and offset the losses due to disease. Now the Kazakhstan government has allocated $14 million for future conservation efforts and educational outreaches to further protect the species.
(OK, it wasn't that short. But short for me, maybe!)
blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/2013/06/27/saiga-success-endangered-antelope/
Numbers of the critically endangered Saiga antelope are starting to recover - having doubled in the last five years. Saiga are native to Kazakhstan and nearby countries in central Asia.
In the last few decades, numbers have been decimated due to uncontrolled poaching - their meat and horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine (it seems like everything is.
) Then in 2010 there was a massive outbreak of pasteurellosis, causing lung infections and deaths.However, after international efforts were made to preserve saiga habitat and reduce the impact of new roads and other infrastructure, the population has grown and offset the losses due to disease. Now the Kazakhstan government has allocated $14 million for future conservation efforts and educational outreaches to further protect the species.
(OK, it wasn't that short. But short for me, maybe!)
