Since May 10th, around half of the world’s critically endangered Saiga antelope have died in Kazakhstan, causing country wide alarm. Now scientists and activists are asking for the help in the investigation, starting with a press conference in Almaty that took place today, June 1st.
STEPS TAKEN TO PUT AN END TO THE ALARMING DEATHS
During the meeting, the country’s Agriculture Ministry and Prosecutor-General’s Offices were asked to send samples of the deceased animals, as well as the local soil and water. The call to action came after the Agriculture Ministry provided a new death count, which has now risen to 127,000.
The number is alarming, considering the fact that Kazakhstan is the primary habitat for the unique animals. Previously, scientists attributed the die-off to several climatic triggers. Two different bacteria, pasteurelosis and clostridia, have been found in every dead animal studied. These organisms are naturally found in the gut and respiratory systems of the Saiga antelopes. However, scientists believe an environmental factor must have caused the normally benign bacteria to turn deadly.
SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS OFFERED AS THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE SAIGA ANTELOPE DIE OFF
Animals affected with the disease die shortly after showing the initial symptoms, which include diarrhea, depression and frothing at the mouth. One possible cause previously mentioned includes the spread of a highly infectious respiratory lung disease that once killed about 12,000 Saiga antelopes backed in 2010.
Another explanation is that the animals were poisoned by rocket fuel from Kazakhstan Baikonur spaceport launches. In addition, this year’s weather conditions, in which a very cold winter was followed by a wet spring, could have aggravated the condition by affecting the overall immunity of the animals.
Although the Saiga antelope have recovered from dramatic population crashes in the past, particularly in 2010 and 2012, none have been as severe as in this instance. Prior to the recent deaths, the population had increased from about 21,000 animals in 2003 to over 250,000.
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