Kazakhstanis fear another mass die-off of saiga antelopes

Tengrinews.kz - Footage circulating online shows dying saiga antelopes in the West Kazakhstan region, sparking fears among locals about potential dangerous infections and another mass die-off similar to previous incidents. Local residents vividly remember the devastating die-off caused by a bacterial infection, pasteurellosis, which led to the deaths of thousands of these steppe antelopes.
The footage shows both dead and struggling animals experiencing heavy breathing and convulsions. Fearing another outbreak, locals raised the alarm.
Specialists have already visited the location and discovered seven carcasses. However, due to decomposition, the cause of death could not be determined. Officials reassured the public that they are actively monitoring the situation and, for now, there is no reason for concern, emphasizing that natural deaths have always occurred.

“The saiga carcasses were disposed of according to the established procedure in a designated burial site. In September, specialists from the National Veterinary Reference Center took samples from the carcasses to test for various diseases, particularly those hazardous to humans and animals. The results were negative, indicating no presence of diseases, including pasteurellosis,” said Arman Izimgaliyev, the chief specialist of the regional forestry and wildlife inspectorate in West Kazakhstan.

Earlier, it was reported that the saiga population in Kazakhstan has approached three million, reflecting a 48% increase compared to last year.