- Paige B.
Weekly Wildlife: Saiga Antelope
Updated: Jun 4, 2020
Is that an Alien? No, it is a Saiga Antelope!
Photograph by Evgeny Polonsky
Where in the world?
PAST: Steppe landscape of the British Isles to Alaska
NOW: Semi-arid desert habitat of Russia and Central Asia
What an interesting character
Quit staring at my nose!
These large bulbous noses help Saiga Antelope live in severe climates. Their noses heat up the air in winter and filter dusty air in the summer.
Distinguishing Traits
Height: 24-32 in (61-81 cm)
Weight: 57-152 lb (26-69 kg)
Color: Varies during the year
Summer: yellow and red
Winter: grayish-brown
Markings: dark markings on the cheeks and nose
Horns:
Males only
Thick and slightly translucent
Wax-colored with 10-20 pronounced rings
We are family
GENUS: Saiga - the only member
FAMILY: Bovidae - cloven-hoofed ruminants
- Let me explain:
Cloven-hoofed is a divided hoof or foot
Ruminant is a mammal that chews cud regurgitated from its rumen
- Others in their family include bison, impalas, gazelles, sheep, goats, and cows
Facts of Life
They're pretty ancient - having roamed with saber-toothed tigers and woolly mammoths
Live in large herds
Vegetarians - they eat plants including some that are poisonous to other animals
Can travel long distances and swim
Mating season is in November - males fight each other to attract females
Females birth and raise their young together
Natural predators include wolves, foxes, golden eagles, dogs, and ravens
Conservation Connection
Saiga Antelope were listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2002
Today only 160,000 antelope are left
The Saiga Conservation Alliance (SCA) focuses on helping these unique creatures survive
Learn more about the SCA and how you can help at http://saiga-conservation.org/
Photographs from the Saiga Conservation Alliance Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Savesaigas/
1. Saiga Antelope. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2020, from https://www.fws.gov/international/animals/saiga-antelope.html
2. Saiga Conservation Alliance. (2016). Retrieved April 4, 2020, from http://saiga-conservation.org/
3. Saiga antelope. (2020, March 31). Retrieved April 4, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiga_antelope
4. Saiga Antelope. (2017). Retrieved April 4, 2020, from https://wildnet.org/wildlife-programs/saiga-antelope/