Kazakhstan to transfer 1,500 saiga antelopes to China for population restoration

Tengrinews.kz – Kazakhstan will transfer 1,500 saiga antelopes to China as part of an initiative to help restore the species in its historical range, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev confirmed during a government press conference.
Earlier, the Presidential press service announced that the saigas would be gifted to China, prompting questions about the logistics and funding of the transfer. Nysanbayev clarified that Kazakh and Chinese experts are currently working together to finalize the details.

"To ensure the global stability of the saiga population, it's important to return them to their historical habitats. Today, over 99.9% of the global population is concentrated in Kazakhstan, but scientists believe they should inhabit all the neighboring countries where they once roamed. This will be one of the first steps toward restoring that ecological balance," the minister said.

He added that while the exact method of transporting the animals is still being discussed, the operation is expected to begin this year and be completed in 2026.

"The entire process will be funded by our Chinese partners," Nysanbayev noted.

Kazakhstan is currently home to more than 98% of the world’s saiga antelope population. The country has received international recognition for its conservation efforts — including praise from actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio in late 2023. However, concerns have recently emerged among local farmers, who argue that the growing number of saigas is impacting agriculture.