From near extinction to a dramatic comeback, this Star Wars antelope has roamed the Earth since the Ice Age.

With his huge, downturned nose that seems borrowed from another world, Saiga Antelope looks like a creature from a prehistoric dream or from Star Wars!
Native to the steppes and semi-arid regions of Central Asia, this ancient species has roamed the Earth since the Ice Age, experiencing dramatic changes in climate and landscape. Let’s look at some interesting facts about this rare creature.

Wonderful nose

The most striking feature of the saiga is its nose. This distinctive bulbous nose is a remarkable adaptation that helps the saiga antelope endure harsh conditions and extreme seasonal temperature fluctuations in its natural habitat. Swollen nostrils act as air filters, keeping dust out and cooling the blood during hot, dry summers. In winter, these same nostrils act as radiators, warming cold air before it reaches the lungs. The saiga also adapts to the seasons thanks to its dense winter coat, which it sheds as temperatures rise.

Almost extinct at that time

Despite their resistance to the harsh climate of the remote wilderness, the creatures were unable to escape the threat of humans. Saiga antelopes were reportedly driven to the brink of extinction in North America by hunters in the 19th century. However, unbridled hunting was stopped and saigas were given legal protection. However, the relief was short-lived, and soon, due to various reasons including poaching and blood diseases, by 2003 only 6 percent of trailing ungulates remained in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia and Uzbekistan.

The main reason for such numbers is the deliberate hunting of saigas for their horn, which, in turn, was used by traditional doctors. The horns of the male saiga are of great importance in China, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia as a component traditional medicine. Subsequently, saigas also faced the threat of expanding human settlements, which significantly reduced their feeding areas.

Encouraging comeback

Although it seemed that the saiga population would never recover from the loss, estimates for 2023 showed significant progress. There are now 1.9 million saigas in Eurasia, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature is raising the species’ Red List status from critically endangered to near-threatened.