Saiga animal. Saiga lifestyle and habitat. What does the saiga eat? Interesting facts from the life of steppe antelopes

Why can't you run fast in winter? Because with rapid breathing, the frosty air does not have time to heat up in the nasal cavity, which can lead to hypothermia.

The steppe animal saiga or saiga (lat. Saiga tatarica) solved this problem quite simply: its short trunk, hanging over its mouth, not only warms the air in winter, but also clears it of dust in summer.

This artiodactyl mammal has a rather original appearance, the most important distinctive feature which, undoubtedly, is a swollen, humped muzzle.

flickr/Xavier Bayod

Of course, the saiga cannot be called handsome - in addition to the ugly head, there is also an awkward, rather dense body, short thin legs and a slightly elongated bulky body. But it runs truly excellent: on a flat, hard surface it can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h.

Igor Shpilenok / naturepl.com

The weight of saiga rarely reaches 50 kilos and is usually in the range of 23-40 kg. The body length is from 110 to 146 cm, the tail is from 8 to 12 cm, and the height at the withers is from 60 to 80 cm. Yellowish-white translucent horns with ring ridges are found only in males. They are located almost vertically, and their length is approximately equal to the length of the head.

In winter, the entire body of the saiga is covered with thick, warm fur of a clay-gray color. Even on the face hair grows, which is just like that of reindeer, protect the nose from the cold. After the spring molt, the fur becomes yellowish-red, almost dark and very sparse.

Saiga antelopes are found in southeastern Russia and Kazakhstan. They are comfortable in dry steppes and semi-deserts, on open areas with sparse vegetation. They never stay in one place for long and roam all the time. They literally eat on the go, so they don’t poison the soil. They prefer to stay away from cultural landscapes.

The natural enemies of saigas are wolves. However, like many other animals, this species has suffered greatly from human activity. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was almost wiped off the face of the earth due to uncontrolled hunting. During times Soviet Union The saiga was taken under protection, and its number reached two million. They even started talking about its commercial significance and in some places hunting was allowed.

biolib.cz / Klaus Rudloff

However, in the 90s, through the efforts of poachers, the number of saigas was increased to 50 thousand. The worst thing is that they hunted him not at all for meat or skin, but solely for his horns, which were highly valued on the Chinese illegal market. During that dark time for saigas, tens, or even hundreds of thousands of their carcasses were scattered throughout the area. Today the species is in critical condition.’

I am glad that saigas reproduce quite well, both in captivity and in the wild. During the mating season, which begins in November, males compete for possession of their own harem, consisting of 5 or even 50 individuals. At the beginning of summer, each female gives birth to from one to three (usually 2) cubs.

Igor Shpilenok / naturepl.com

At first, the saigas lie motionless and wait for their mother, who is eating grass nearby. During this period, they are vulnerable to ferrets, foxes and other predators, the only protection against which is the ability of the kids to skillfully hide. Literally after a week they run briskly, and after a month they begin to pluck the grass themselves.

An animal of the steppe, the saiga is similar in appearance to a sheep on high thin legs. The most remarkable feature of the saiga is its humped muzzle with an overhanging soft, movable proboscis above the mouth. This is what distinguishes this animal from all other ungulates.

External description.

All saigas have round nostrils located close to each other at the end of their proboscis, pointing downwards. Male saiga antlers are translucent, light waxy in color, set almost vertically. They bend like a lyre and on most of their parts bear several annular ridges. The color of these animals in summer is yellowish-red, without a white “mirror” in the tail area. The color in winter is very light, clayey, sometimes gray. The body is 100-145 cm long, the height at the withers is 55-80 cm, and the weight can reach 50 kg. Females are usually smaller than males.

Habitat.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, saigas inhabited all steppes and semi-deserts from the Carpathians in the west to Western China and Mongolia in the east. He lived in Asia along the valleys of rivers such as the Yenisei, Irtysh and Lena, penetrating to the very Arctic Ocean. However, in the second half of the 19th century, people rapidly populated the steppes of the European part of Russia, and the saiga almost disappeared from Europe. As a result, at present it has been preserved only in the most remote areas of the Volga in Europe, and in Asia - along the Ustyurt, in the Ili-Karatal interfluve, in the region of the western lakes of Mongolia and some other places.

The saiga lives in semi-deserts and dry steppes with dense rocky or clay soil, on plains. He tries to avoid not only high mountains, but even hills and simply terrain crossed by valleys and ravines. Only during snow storms in winter does it occasionally enter areas of lumpy sand overgrown with bushes, where it tries to find protection from the freezing winds. The saiga's love for the plains is determined by its deep and ancient adaptations to ambling. Thanks to it, the saiga on a flat surface can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h. But on rough terrain he is helpless.

Lifestyle and nutrition.

Saigas feed on any steppe grasses, even those that are poisonous to many domestic animals. In summer they choose cereals for themselves, and in winter - hodgepodge. During the dry period of the year, this mountain animal chooses those plants whose humidity is at least 50-65%. Looking for more succulent grasses, huge herds of saigas walk across the steppe, and the more the grass dries, the more active the saiga animal becomes. In June-August, when the grass literally burns out under the sun and there is no rain for a long time, saigas head to rivers and lakes to drink.

Despite the fact that saigas look for succulent young plants in the steppe, carefully nibbling every green shoot, they are extremely reluctant to enter crops of wheat, corn, alfalfa or other agricultural plants. Loose soil in the fields interferes with fast running, and dense plants overwhelm the eyes of the saigas, who always run with their heads lowered to the ground. Although saigas usually live in huge herds, they do not overgraze pastures. This animal of the steppe is constantly on the move, feeding on the move. Saigas spend the winter in places where there is no snow or where it is no deeper than 15-20 cm. From here, in the south, in early spring, like birds, saigas rush to the north.

Reproduction.

In March-April, pregnant females look for the most remote places in the steppe, where there are no watering places nearby, and, therefore, no wolves. Females gathered in such “maternity hospitals” give birth to newborns in early May. In the first birth, the female brings one baby, females over a year old give birth to two. The entire population immediately increases by 115% after the addition of young animals. This early onset of sexual maturity and the high fertility of females ensure a very rapid restoration of the species' numbers. Females form “maternity houses” where grass cover is sparse and there are many bare places completely without grass. Such areas warm up well, and the cold May dew quickly disappears under the first rays of the sun. Newborn babies always lie on completely bare areas of soil, merging with its surface. When approached, they close their eyes and hide. Such a cub is not easy to notice even from two or three steps. But if you look closely, the entire steppe around you turns out to be covered with babies. There are an average of 5-6 newborns per 1 hectare. When the cubs get a little stronger, the saigas return to migrate to the summer pasture.

Social structure and numbers.

In late autumn, herds of saigas move further south, and here they begin mating season in early December. Each adult male needs to take possession of as many females as possible. Males, through fierce fights over females, each collect their own harem. Harems consist of 4-6, and sometimes 15-20 females. Male polygamy is very important biological feature a species that, along with high fertility and early maturity of females, ensures a rapid increase in numbers. In the steppe, where saigas live, every 10 years there are very harsh winters with snowstorms and severe frosts. In such winters, many animals die, and the first to suffer are adult males, weakened by mating season in fights. However, this does not greatly affect the overall number - the saiga herd is restored very soon. In the life of saigas great importance has their ability to travel thousands of kilometers in a short time. During snowfall, a significant part of the population leaves the site of natural disasters. Like a ship of the steppe, the saiga can move at high speed for many days.

Species protection.

Studying the lifestyle of these animals, especially the features of their biology that determine the rapid restoration of numbers, allowed scientists to create rational measures for the protection of this species.

Currently, many state hunting farms in Kazakhstan carry out veterinary supervision of saigas. Specialists protect animals from poachers, make artificial watering holes, and feed animals during harsh winters by dropping hay from airplanes. Saiga antelope is an important game animal. He uses skin, meat and horns (as medicinal raw materials). To prevent saigas from becoming rare animals again, their protection is now being strengthened, hunting reserves are being established, and the number of artificial watering places is growing.

Habitats and behavior

In different seasons of the year, saigas gather in large herds in the steppes and semi-deserts and feed on a wide variety of plant species, including those that are poisonous to other animal species. Saigas migrate long distances and can swim across rivers, but try to avoid steep and rocky slopes. The mating season begins in November, when males compete for possession of the female. The male who wins the fight becomes the owner of a “harem” consisting of 5 to 50 females. At the end of spring - beginning of summer, cubs appear - young females often bring one at a time, and adults (in 2 cases out of three) - two.

Spreading

After the Late Valdai Glaciation, saigas ranged from the far west of Europe, including the British Isles, to central Alaska and northwestern Canada. In the 17th-18th centuries, the saiga inhabited all steppes and semi-deserts from the foothills of the Carpathians in the west to Mongolia and Western China in the east. In those days it reached to the north as far as Kyiv and the Barabinsk steppe of Siberia. However, in the second half of the 19th century, people quickly populated the steppe spaces, and the saiga almost disappeared from Europe. The range and number of saiga antelopes have also sharply decreased in Asia. As a result, by the beginning of the 20th century, it was preserved in Europe only in the most remote areas of the lower reaches of the Volga River, and in Asia - along the Ustyurt, in Betpak-Dale, in the Ili-Karatal interfluve (sands of Saryesik-Atyrau), in the basins of the western lakes of Mongolia and some other places.

Reconstructed ancient habitat of saigas (white) and modern habitat of two species Saiga tatarica tatarica(green) and Saiga tatarica mongolica(red)

This was followed by a strong decrease in numbers and almost complete extermination of the saiga in the 1920s, but thanks to measures taken protection and high fertility of saiga populations recovered and in the 1950s the number was more than 2 million individuals living in steppes and semi-deserts former USSR. IN certain moment Animal welfare groups such as the World Wildlife Fund have encouraged the hunting of saigas, calling their horns an alternative to rhinoceros horns. The numbers have declined again, and the saiga is now on the World Conservation Union's list of critically endangered animals. To date, there are about 70,000 saiga individuals left alive, belonging to the subspecies Saiga tatarica tatarica and living in Russia (Northwestern Caspian Sea), three regions of Kazakhstan (Volga-Ural Sands, Ustyurt and Betpak-Dala) and two isolated regions of Mongolia (Shargin Gobi and Mankhan soum region). The Black Earth Nature Reserve was created in the Republic of Kalmykia (Russia) in 1990 to preserve the saiga population living in the North-Western Caspian region. The population in Mongolia is a different subspecies - Saiga tatarica mongolica and currently numbers about 3,500 individuals.

2010 has been declared the Year of the Saiga in the Republic of Kalmykia.

Historical reference

At the beginning of the 20th century, saigas were the subject of significant hunting in the steppes of Kazakhstan, mainly among Aral Sea. The Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedia gives the following details of the saiga hunt:

C. are mined in the greatest number in the summer, in the very heat, when they are exhausted in the fight against the insects that torment them - midges, gadflies and especially the larvae of gadflies that develop under their skin; not finding peace for themselves, S. go into a frenzy and either rush around the steppe like mad, or stand in one place like crazy and dig holes (kobla) with their hooves, and either lie down in them, hiding their nose under their front legs, or jump up and they drum their feet somewhere; At such hours, when S. are “stalking”, they lose their usual caution, and hunters sneak up on them for a shot. Kirghiz hunters drive the grazing S. towards their comrades, who lie down with rifles, mainly at watering holes, or onto bunches of pointed reeds driven into the paths along which the S. descend to the watering hole; then they watch for them on the trails, at river crossings, drive them into holes and onto slippery ice, on which S. cannot run. Sometimes S. is hunted by Karategin greyhounds (tazy), which are distinguished by their outstanding agility; For such a hunt, hunters go out in twos, each with a pair of greyhounds in the pack; noticing S., one of the hunters drives ahead of the herd, and the other travels 5-8 versts; The first hunter lets the dogs go and drives the animals towards the second hunter, who, having waited for S., lets in his dogs, and they more easily overtake the animals, tired of the first chase. Occasionally they hunt S. with a golden eagle. The Kirghiz sometimes track down pregnant females and after giving birth they catch the still fragile cubs, the latter are easily fed by a domestic goat and become tame. S.'s meat is a delicious dish for a nomad, horns are a valuable product of monetary exchange, and leather is the best material for making dokhs (ergak). The horns of a young S. are completely yellow, with black ends, smooth, shiny; The horns of the old S. are gray-yellow, matte, with longitudinal cracks. S.'s coat is short and coarse, used for various household products. The saiga fishery at the beginning of the 20th century was quite significant, and the number of exported horns reached tens of thousands over the period. The main difficulties of this fishery were that it is carried out during extreme heat, as a result of which the miners had to carry salt and tubs with them and salt the hunted animals at the hunting site.

Notes

Literature

• “Commercial hunting among the Kyrgyz” (“Okhotnaya Gazeta”, No. 31);
• N. Koratov, “About Karategin greyhounds” (ibid., No. 47);
• Y. Polferov, “Hunting in the Turgai region.” (Orenburg, );
• A. Silantyev, “Review commercial hunting in Russia" (St. Petersburg, );
• I. Zheleznov, “Saiga people” (Otech. Notes,).

Links

• Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Saiga Antelope
• Information support for saiga conservation programs

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See what "Saiga" is in other dictionaries:

Saiga antelope- Saiga tatarica see also 9.4.1. Genus Saiga Saiga Saiga Saiga tatarica (body length 100-145 cm, height at withers 55-80 cm) with a characteristic humped nose and trunk. The color is reddish yellow in summer, light gray in winter, without a mirror. Horns of males... ... Animals of Russia. Directory

Saiga antelope- (Antilope saiga, male saiga or margach, female saiga) from the family. Antelope, the subject of significant fishing in the Kyrgyz steppes, mainly near the Aral Sea. S. are mined in greatest quantities in the summer, in the heat of the day, when they languish in... ... Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron

SAIGAS- SAIGA, mammal (bovid family). Body length 110-140 cm, tail 8-12 cm, weight up to 40 kg. The horns of males are lyre-shaped (length up to 40 cm). Running at speeds up to 70-80 km/h. Lives in steppes and semi-deserts Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Nizhny ... Modern encyclopedia

SAIGAS- (saiga) a cloven-hoofed animal of the bovid family. length up to 1.4 m. The nose is long, trunk-shaped. The horns of males are lyre-shaped (length up to 40 cm). Lives in the steppes and semi-deserts of Kazakhstan, Wed. Asia, Lower Volga region, Mongolia and Western. China...... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Saiga antelope (lat. Saiga tatarica) belong to the steppe artiodactyl mammal from the family of bovids, so ancient that their herds grazed along with mammoths. Today there are two subspecies Saiga tatarica tatarica (green saiga) and Saiga tatarica mongolica ( red saiga).

These animals are also popularly called margach and northern antelope. Currently, this species is under strict protection, as it is on the verge of extinction.

Some steppe peoples considered these mammals. The theme of the close connection between these animals and people is revealed in the story of the writer Ahmedkhan Abu-Bakar “ White saiga».

Features and habitat of the saiga

This animal definitely cannot be called beautiful. The first thing that immediately catches your eye when you look at photo of saiga– their awkward humpbacked muzzle and mobile proboscis with close, rounded nostrils. This structure of the nose allows not only to warm cold air in winter period, but also retains dust in the summer.

In addition to the humpbacked head, the saiga has a clumsy, plump body up to one and a half meters long and thin, high legs, which, like all others, end in two fingers and a hoof.

The height of the animal is up to 80 cm at the withers, and the weight does not exceed 40 kg. The color of the animals changes depending on the season. In winter, the coat is thick and warm, light, with a reddish tint, and in summer it is dirty red, darker on the back.

The head of males is crowned with translucent, yellowish-white lyre-shaped horns up to 30 cm long. saiga horns begin almost immediately after the calf is born. It was these horns that caused the extinction of this species.

After all, in the 90s of the last century they were well bought on the black market saiga horns, price theirs was quite high. Therefore, poachers exterminated them in tens of thousands. To date saigas live in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the steppes of Kazakhstan and Mongolia. On the territory they can be found in Kalmykia and the Astrakhan region.

Character and lifestyle of the saiga

There, where does the saiga live, should be dry and spacious. Perfect option steppes or semi-deserts. The vegetation in their habitat is sparse, so they have to move around all the time in search of food.

But the herds prefer to stay away from the sown fields, since due to the uneven surface they cannot run fast. They can encroach on agricultural plants only in the driest year, and, unlike sheep, they do not trample crops. They also do not like hilly terrain.

Saiga is an animal, which is kept in the herd. An amazingly beautiful sight is the migration of a herd numbering thousands of heads. Like a stream they spread across the earth. And this is connected with the type of running of the antelope - ambling.

The margach is capable of running for quite a long time at a speed of up to 70 km/h. And this one floats saiga antelope quite good, there are known cases of animals crossing quite wide rivers, for example, Volga. From time to time the animal makes vertical jumps while running.

Depending on the season, they move either south when winter approaches and the first snow falls. Migrations are rarely without casualties. In an effort to escape from a snow storm, a herd can cover up to 200 km without stopping in a day.

The weak and sick are simply exhausted and, falling while running, die. If they stop, they will lose their herd. In summer, the herd migrates to the north, where the grass is lush and there is drinking water in sufficient quantity.

The babies of these antelopes are born in late spring, and before giving birth, the saigas come to certain areas. If the weather is unfavorable for the animals, they begin their spring migration, and then babies can be seen in the herd.

At the age of 3-4 days old and weighing up to 4 kg, they comically scamper after their mother, trying to keep up. These mammals lead an active daytime lifestyle and sleep at night. Animals can only escape from their main enemy, the steppe wolf, by running fast.

Saiga food

In different seasons, herds of saigas can feed on different types of plants, and some of them are even poisonous to other herbivores. Juicy shoots of cereals, wheatgrass and wormwood, quinoa and solyanka; in total, about a hundred species of plants are included in the margach’s diet in summer period. By feeding on succulent plants, antelopes solve their water problem, and for a long time can do without it. And in winter, instead of water, animals eat snow.

Reproduction and lifespan of the saiga

The mating season for saigas falls at the end of November-beginning of December. During the rut, each male strives to create a “harem” of as many females as possible. Puberty in females much faster than in males. Already in the first year of life they are ready to bear offspring.

During the rut, fluid is released from the glands located near the eyes. Brown with a pungent, unpleasant odor. It is thanks to this “aroma” that males sense each other even at night.

Often fierce fights occur between two males, rushing at each other, their foreheads and horns colliding, until one of the rivals remains defeated.

During such fights, animals often inflict terrible wounds, from which they may subsequently die. The winner takes the females he likes into his harem. The rutting period lasts about 10 days.

A strong and healthy rogal has up to 50 females in a herd, and at the end of spring, each of them will have from one (in young females) to three saigas calves. Before giving birth, females go to the remote steppes, away from watering places. This is the only way to protect yourself and your children from.

For the first few days, the saiga calf practically does not move and lies crouched to the ground. Its fur practically merges with the ground. Only a few times a day a mother approaches her baby to feed him milk, and the rest of the time she simply grazes nearby.

While the cub is still immature, it is very vulnerable and becomes easy prey for foxes and jackals, as well as for feral dogs. But after 7-10 days, the saiga calf begins to follow its mother’s heels, and after more than two weeks it can run as fast as adults. On average, saigas live up to seven years in natural conditions, and in captivity their lifespan reaches twelve years.

No matter how ancient this species of artiodactyl is, it should not become extinct. Today, in the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, all measures have been taken to preserve saigas. Nature reserves and reserves have been created, the main goal of which is to preserve this original species for posterity.

And only the activities of poachers who respond to the offer of horns buy saigas, The population is decreasing every year. China continues to buy horns saiga, price which goes off scale, and it doesn’t matter whether the horns are old or fresh, from a just killed animal.

It's connected with traditional medicine. It is believed that the powder made from them cures many diseases of the liver and stomach, stroke, and can even bring a person out of a coma.

As long as there is demand, there will be those who want to profit from these funny little animals. And this will lead to the complete disappearance of antelopes, because you need to take up to 3 grams of powder from the horns.

Margach, saiga, saiga are the same artiodactyl animal, which is part of the antelope subfamily, and looks like a sheep. Their rut falls in December, during which males form herds of females, which can number more than 20 heads of saiga. In the spring, each of them gives birth to 2 babies, less often 1 or 3. On average, saigas live 8 years, sometimes up to 12 years.

Features of the saiga
The saiga is a small antelope, clumsy and dense with a long and bulky body, short, thin and strong legs. The saiga, with a withers height of 80 cm, has a body length of 130 cm. It has its own peculiarity, by which you can distinguish a saiga - on its large, hook-nosed head there is a soft, movable trunk, which hangs over the mouth and nostrils, covered with hair.

The saiga's proboscis plays an important role, because in winter it warms up the outside, cold air, and in dry periods summer time dust is filtered. The color of the saiga's coat is reddish-yellow, it is prone to seasonal changes in winter - dense and long, in summer - less dense and short. Large saigas weigh 60 kilograms. But average weight females weigh up to 35 kg, and males weigh up to 45 kg.

Only males have horns; they begin to emerge as early as a month. It is easy to determine the age of a saiga from them - light horns mean that its age is from 1 year, on a black background, individual light areas mean that its age is from 7 months to 8 months, black horns are characteristic of saigas at the age of six months. The saiga's horns grow until it is two years old. At this age, the horns become transparent, lightly colored at the ends, with a light waxy tint. The horns are spaced quite widely, at first they are slightly bent back, and at the top they move forward again.

Saiga species
The saiga belongs to the class of mammals, the order of artiodactyls and the family of bovids. The saiga stands between the antelope and the sheep and largely adopts their way of life. In Russia, the saiga inhabits Kalmykia and Kazakhstan.

Where does the saiga live?
He lives in dry steppe zones and semi-deserts. Selects flat areas where there are no rough terrain or hills. Prefers to live on open area without excessively dense and dense vegetation (shrub grasses and shrubs). This gives the saiga the ability to run away from predatory animals; it can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h.

He chooses lumpy sands and hills in winter, when intense snowstorms blow. He leads a nomadic life, not a sedentary one, he does not stay in one place, and often makes seasonal movements. In winter, the saiga moves south to snowless areas, and in the spring it moves to the northern regions, where lush pastures are located.

Nutrition
The saiga feeds on grass and consumes different types steppe grasses. Summer cypress, wormwood and steppe lichen are considered the most important in its diet. It can feed on plants that are dangerous to animals, and can feed on saltworts, ephemerals, ephedra and forbs. The main winter food for it is lichens, twigs, wormwood, and cereal rags. In summer and spring it prefers cereals and soft, juicy herbs. When it's hot, he goes to water.

Saiga hunting
Currently, saiga hunting is carried out under licenses. Approximately 600,000 heads are harvested per year. In the forties, saigas proliferated so much that they became a threat to cereal plants, especially in the Ciscaucasia and Kazakhstan. In the 1950s, licensed hunting for saiga began. Now she has acquired an organized fishery. Now the situation is the opposite, but the hunt is carried out under control. For example, some populations of saigas comprise only a hundred or two of these animals.

The reason for the decrease in the number of saigas was not only their shooting, but also many factors, the main one being human intervention natural areas of this animal, interfered with its main habitats. This includes land plowing and construction. For example, on European territory networks of structures were built that are insurmountable for saigas; these are canals in which walls stand vertically. Saiga antelopes are hunted for their horns and are exported for production. medicines, namely tonic preparations and because of the skins, they are used for the production of chromium. In some regions, saigas are specially bred in hunting farms for this purpose.