Kazakhstan Reports Record Saiga Population, Strengthens Management Measures
Kazakhstan’s saiga population has reached a record 4 million individuals, prompting the government to implement enhanced management measures to address the rapid growth, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar stated.
During a government meeting, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev and other officials reported on actions undertaken in 2025. The ministry projects that the saiga population may approach 5 million following the 2026 lambing season.
To safeguard agricultural lands and maintain ecosystem balance, population management has been carried out in accordance with scientific recommendations.
Between July 1 and November 30, approximately 196,000 saiga were culled, with the meat directed to domestic processing facilities, according to the Prime Minister’s press service.
Authorities also emphasized the secure storage and strict accounting of saiga horns. All horns have been labeled and placed under enhanced protection at the Okhotzooprom state enterprise. Additionally, officials discussed the introduction of a digital labeling system to enable full traceability of saiga derivatives.
Developed in collaboration with Kazakhtelecom, the project has received international support through CITES and may facilitate the gradual lifting of export restrictions on legally sourced saiga products.
Photo credit: Victor Tyakht/Shutterstock.
