Saiga
Saiga tatarica
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Artiodactyla
Family
Bovidae
Genus
Saiga
Saiga belongs to the family Bovidae, order Artiodactyla, within the Mammalia class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Saiga faces severe threats from illegal hunting for its horns, which are highly valued in traditional medicine, leading to dramatic population declines. Habitat loss from agricultural expansion and infrastructure development, combined with climate change impacts on grassland ecosystems, further threaten remaining populations. Disease outbreaks have also caused catastrophic mortality events in recent years.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Semi-arid grasslands, steppes, and semi-deserts of Central Asia, including open plains and rolling hills with sparse vegetation. The species migrates seasonally between summer and winter ranges across these vast grassland ecosystems.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Saiga faces severe threats from illegal hunting for its horns, which are highly valued in traditional medicine, leading to dramatic population declines. Habitat loss from agricultural expansion and infrastructure development, combined with climate change impacts on grassland ecosystems, further threaten remaining populations. Disease outbreaks have also caused catastrophic mortality events in recent years.
Climate change affecting grassland ecosystems
Disease outbreaks causing mass mortality
Habitat loss and fragmentation from agriculture
Illegal hunting for horn trade
Infrastructure development and human disturbance
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
| EU | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Saiga (Saiga tatarica). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/saiga