AsianScientist (Apr. 6, 2017) – A study evaluating past saiga antelope re-introduction efforts has helped to rule out a planned re-introduction site, sparking the search for more ideal candidates. These findings, by researchers from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with scientists from the Oxford University, has been published in Scientific Reports.
Millions of saiga antelope once roamed between their winter and summer ranges on the vast Eurasia steppe. However, saiga populations declined rapidly in the 1950s due to overhunting, habitat reduction and blockage of migratory routes. Saiga populations in Kazakhstan and Russia also decreased 90 percent in 20 years, causing them to be been listed as an endangered species.
To restore the species, the Wuwei Endangered Wildlife Breeding Centre (WEWBC, now called Gansu Endangered Animal Protection Centre) was established in Gansu Province, China in 1987. Eleven adult saiga from the San Diego Zoo and the Berlin Taie Zoo were introduced to form the founder herd during 1988–1991, and one calf was added from the wild saiga population in Kalmykia, Russia in 1997.
Currently, the population at WEWBC has increased to over 170 individuals. However, founder events, bottlenecks and inbreeding have resulted in low genetic diversity in this captive population, which, together with harsh winter conditions and epidemic disease, has led to large fluctuations in the population size. The number of saiga at WEWBC once decreased by 77 percent, leaving only nine individuals that survived in the year of 2000. However, so far no further reintroduction of saiga has been taken.
Before a reintroduction program is planned and execution implemented, an assessment of historical distribution patterns and potential reintroduction sites is necessary. However, compared with other regions in Central Asia, virtually no study has explicitly examined the former saiga range in China or developed a timeline of its decline. Also, no studies have been done to determine how historical saiga populations moved seasonally between China and its neighboring countries, and whether the current habitat conditions can sustain reintroduced populations.
In the current study, researchers delineated the historical distribution and potential reintroduction areas of saiga in China using a literature review, interviews and predictive modelling. They found a total of 28 historical records, which covered the time period from the end of the 19th century to the 1950s.
Their results showed that WEWBC is outside the historical range of saiga; it is not an ideal reintroduction site for revival saiga due to its low habitat suitability and the difference in environmental variables.
The results demonstrate the challenges of restoring a free-ranging, sustainable saiga population. Based on their findings, the researchers recommend re-introduction in protected areas within the potential saiga range in northern Xinjiang and the development of a national action plan to provide a framework for the future recovery of the species.
The article can be found at: Cui et al. (2017) Historical Range, Extirpation and Prospects for Reintroduction of Saigas in China.
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Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences; Photo: Jiang Zhigang.
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