65,000 Saiga Antelopes Flood Southern Kazakhstan After Harsh Winter

Tens of thousands of saiga antelopes have migrated into Kazakhstan's Kyzylorda Region since late December. The movement follows heavy snowfall and food shortages in their usual habitats. Officials report that over 30,000 animals have gathered in the Aral district alone.

The saigas travelled from the Koskol rural district in the Ulytau Region, crossing railway lines before reaching Kyzylorda. Their migration was driven by deep snow and limited grazing options. In total, around 60,000 to 65,000 now occupy the Syrdarya area, with large groups also spotted in Kazaly, Karmakshy, Zhalagash, and Syrdarya districts.

Kazakhstan hosts three major saiga populations: the Ural herd (2.3 million), the Betpak-Dala herd (1.6 million), and the Ustyurt herd (78,000). Over the past ten years, their combined numbers have risen by 40.4%. Despite this growth, illegal hunting remains a criminal offence under national law.

Last year, authorities removed 196,210 saigas from the wild as part of population control efforts. These measures ran from July to December in regions where the animals damaged crops. However, no official records detail how many were specifically culled due to agricultural conflicts or which mitigation steps were taken.

The migration has brought thousands of saigas into new areas of southern Kazakhstan. Their presence may impact local farming, though exact figures on crop damage remain unclear. With nearly four million saigas nationwide, conservation and regulation efforts continue to balance ecological and agricultural needs.