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Saiga Antelope (Saiga tatarica)

Posted on Dec 19, 2007 by in Ungulates | 2 comments

Saiga tatarica

Number 0076

I just love these guys; sadly, saigas are severely endangered, owing to habitat destruction and, especially, widespread poaching—their horns are a valuable ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. In fact, their numbers have plummeted almost 95 percent in less than 20 years, a rate that is unheard of and very alarming.

They live on the steppes of central Asia. Some think their strange proboscis helps filter out the dust; others think it heats up the air they breathe before it reaches their lungs.

I came snout-to-snout with a stuffed saiga specimen at the Wagner Free Institute of Science in Philadelphia. I hope I can see a live one someday. I hope it’s even possible.

The saiga is number 62 on the EDGE list of 100 evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered species.

Saiga conservation in Russia

2 Comments

  1. Very cool project! I’m sorry that I can’t donate, but if I could submit a request anyway? I’d really like to see any kind of otter, sea otter, river otter, any kind. I just like ’em. Whenever you could get to it would be fine.

  2. Of course you can make a request! Thanks, Lydia. I love otters too.

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