Saiga Antelope Overpopulation Cripples West Kazakhstan Farmers

Saiga Surge: West Kazakhstan Farmers Plead for Help Amid Antelope Overpopulation West Kazakhstan Oblast, Kazakhstan – Farmers in the Akzhayik district are facing unprecedented challenges due to a dramatic increase in the saiga antelope population. The large herds are overgrazing pastures, preventing farmers from grazing their livestock and harvesting winter feed. "The saigas have become too numerous," laments one local resident. "It's impossible to graze our cattle; they've taken over all the pastures." Farmers claim this issue has persisted for years, with their pleas for government intervention going unanswered. The prohibition on saiga hunting leaves them with limited options to address the problem. Some propose establishing meat processing plants or relocating the antelopes to alleviate the situation. The government is urged to act before the crisis worsens. The farmers' plight underscores the complex interplay between wildlife conservation and the economic needs of local communities.