The Mongolian Saiga (Saiga tatarica mongolica) is endemic to Mongolia. It inhabits the western part of the country (Altai-Sayan Ecoregion), in particular Shargiin Gobi and Khuisiin Gobi in the Gobi-Altai Province, and Dorgon steppe in the Great Lakes Basin of Khovd Province.

Numbers and distribution of the species decline since many years, because of competition with domestic livestock, severe environmental and weather phenomena and poaching. Population numbers are fluctuating for the last few years from about 5.200 in 2.000 to 800-1.000 in 2001. The current numbers are about 3.000.

WWF Mongolia has supported Saiga conservation since 1998. WWF started a new, major action, in September 2007 with financial support from the MAVA Foundation. The main goal of the project is:
• Strengthening law enforcement by setting-up a Saiga Conservation Mobile Anti-poaching Unit and a community based network of Saiga Rangers.
• Intensifying cooperation with local people (herders) to promote community based Saiga conservation and Saiga oriented rangeland management.
• Launching a broad education and awareness program.

Following activities are implemented for the first period of saiga conservation project, such as progress towards the project goal and objectives.

Community-based Law Enforcement
Relevant local decision makers, law enforcement agencies, public organizations, and a large number of local people are fully aware of the project’s objective and support the project. Saiga rangers, volunteer rangers, local conservationists and inspectors were trained at workshops in Gobi-Altai province and operate together in a community based conservation and anti-poaching operation.


Photo 1. Awareness for the local communties

WWF Mongolia organized a workshop in Ulaanbaatar to strengthen cooperation between  Government, scientists and Non-Govermental Organizations, to improve control of illegel trade in wildlife products. Participants agreed to sstrengthen cooperation between all parties for effective control and monitoring of wildlife trade, improvement of legislation, sharing of information and capacity building. The Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs and the Ministry of Nature and Environment agreed on a joint campaign on crime prevention throughout Mongolia. The project team elaborated conservation oriented amendments to the Hunting Legislation, on behalf of the Mongolian Government, together with WCS and other NGOs.  These were accepted by the Ministry for Environment and sent to the parliament for consideration and approved. 

Community Participation in Saiga Conservation
The community based team of Saiga rangers and volunteers has been upgraded. All rangers receive a decent salary and funds for patrol and maintenance of motorbikes. The team is highly motivated, well trained and highly respected in the region. It is the best and most efficient law enforcement unit in Mongolia.


Photo 2. Saiga ranger network

Saiga rangers were trained in survey methodology by WWF Mongolia in cooperation with the Institute of Biology, MAS. A set of simple tasks were developed for rangers, e.g. distribution, numbers, sex ratio and location of the Mongolian saiga antelope. Ranger  were also trained on GPS (global position system), mapping and  acquainted with related legislation.



Photo 3. Training for  Saiga ranger network

And also new Mobile Anti Poaching Unit “Irves-3” operates in the Saiga range. The team detected poaching of a female Saiga and poaching of three Wild asses in November 2007 and poaching of one Snow leopard in March 2008. All cases are under investigation by the police.


Photo 4. Mobile Anti Poaching Unit

The first Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercise was conducted with potential members of herder communities. The PRA helps to assess the current situation and to identify potential bottlenecks and ways of addressing them. This will help to select appropriate activities for community based conservation measures, and to ensure that these produce long term benefits for Saiga conservation. The ranger network ensures law enforcement by regular patrolling of the Saiga range throughout the year and builds up groups of herders who are supporting Saiga conservation in their grazing areas.


Photo 5. Herder communities are participating on PRA

Public Education and Awareness
A needs assesment on awareness and education activities was acrried out by a specialised team (Ministry of Education, WWF and other NGOs, Scientists) and developed three year education/awareness program with focus on different target groups based on the those assessment.  Six Eco-clubs (youth-clubs) were established at schools in the project area. All clubs have had their first gatherings and activities. They are led by teachers and supported by WWF’s education team and the saiga rangers. 


Photo 6. Youth-club’s children are in education contest

Saiga Population Monitoring
This is done  once a year since 1998. Surveys are being carried out by WWF’s Mongolian Programme Office in cooperation with the Institute of Biology and local rangers.

This covers population numbers, trends, calf production and the role of dzuds (harsh winter). The objective is to determine population size, structure, density and migration, identify population trends and dynamics and assess threats. 


Photo 7. Searching for Saiga

The survey of January 2008 estimated 3.240 saiga in an area of 13.000 km2 with a density of 2.6 animals per 1.000 ha. This shows an 11.8 percent increase in saiga numbers in comparison to last year’s survey.
Following figure shows the dynamics of the saiga population based on population estimates from 1998 to 2008.

Population dynamics of Mongolian Saiga


Monitoring should not be an independent activity it needs to remain an integral part of the project. Population assessments of WCS have produced different results, based on different methodology. It is most important that WCS and Mongolian experts reach agreement on a common methodology. The proposal developed by WCS, for funding by Mava, will contribute to this effort. Any new methodology should ensure that data collected over a long time will not be lost and tested it in the field.

Illegal Trade on Saiga Horn
In October 2007, the court decided to re-investigate the poaching case of 54 Saigas which took place in 2006. To avoid that wildlife related crimes are being overlooked by the judicial system, WWF Mongolia hired an additional lawyer to act as an independent observer to the court case. WWF’s independent lawyer filed a complaint   against the judges at local levels that declined the case; they were dismissed from their work for their unethical professional conduct and replaced. Court room decisions have been brought to the attention of the public on a regular basis.


Photo 8. Confiscated saiga horns

Capacity Building
Two staff members from the General Police Department were sent to the USA for training on fighting illegal trade of wildlife product. They will train their staff in new methods which are appropriate for Mongolia.

Engaging Partners & Donors
WWF Mongolia has established contacts to SDC (Swiss Development Corporation) and GTZ (German Development Aid) which will contribute to education and awareness activities in the region. These programmes will be coordinated with WWF and provide additional funding for WWF activities.

Network Engagement
The project is fully integrated into WWF’s Altai-Sayan Pogramme, in which the following organizations participate: UNEP, Swedish International Development Aid (SIDA), World Conservation Society (WCS), Large Herbivore Foundation (LHF), Zoo Schönbrunn, Takhi Foundation, WWF Hungary with funding from the Hungarian Government, and the Hungarian Kishkunsag Nationalpark.

For more information contact Chimeddorj or Onon
WWF Mongolia Programme office
Project “Conservation of the Saiga antelope in Great lakes basin"