Deputy urges action on saiga population control this year

Tengrinews.kz - Mazhilis deputy Abzal Kuspan has called for an urgent decision on regulating the saiga population in Kazakhstan, stating that the issue must be resolved within this year.
He emphasized that the rapid growth of the saiga population negatively impacts agriculture and places additional strain on the ecosystem.

"This problem did not emerge overnight—hundreds of complaints and appeals sent to regional authorities have gone unanswered for years. In 2023, experts from the UN Convention on Migratory Species visited Kazakhstan, specifically the West Kazakhstan region. Following their assessment, the government was given concrete recommendations, with the main one being the need to address the saiga issue," Kuspan said in his parliamentary inquiry.

However, he noted that the government has yet to take concrete steps to implement these recommendations.
In response, Kuspan urged authorities to adopt an official resolution on saiga population control this year. He called for the publication of methods and environmental justifications for the process, the appointment of a responsible government agency, and the approval of specific measures.
Additionally, the deputy stressed the need to designate officials responsible for a comprehensive saiga population management policy, enhance coordination between ministries, clarify accountability, and develop a compensation mechanism for agricultural losses.
Previously, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources revealed plans regarding the regulation of the saiga antelope population.