"Armed expedition to the meat processing facility"
Saiga Antelope Overpopulation Causes Agricultural Crisis in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's Mazhilis held a roundtable discussion focused on addressing the growing issue of the saiga antelope population, with some proposals sparking heated debates.
Deputy Pavel Kazantsev called for immediate action, expressing frustration over the continuous flood of reports on the matter. He characterized the situation as an emergency, stating that the current number of saigas would reach hundreds of thousands. Kazantsev demanded:
- Political commitment to tackling this issue
- Establishment of a republican headquarters to coordinate actions for regulating animal numbers
- Establishment of local operational headquarters for quick decision-making
In addition, he suggested state hunting, followed by private hunting as a means to provide free meat for the population. Kazantsev also admitted to being in favor of culling the male saigas and yearlings, as he believes it would boost efficiency in managing the large population.
Galymzhan Sahanov, head of TОО "Sepe-1" from the Akmolinsk region, proposed alternative solutions. Sahanov reported an estimated one million saigas in the Egindykol region, causing considerable damage to crops spanning more than 20,000 hectares. He suggested:
- The extraction of saiga from nature to address the food problem by providing affordable and eco-friendly meat and derivatives
- The Ministry of Agriculture should establish enterprises for the production of enclosures for fields, with the provision of preferential loans and affordable prices
- Implementing a yearly saiga migration journal, informing agricultural producers of expected times and routes of movement
In response, Vice-Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Nurlan Sharbiev explained that the department is currently studying the opinions of the public, scientists, and international experts on the matter. Sharbiev stated that the government aims to move towards sustainable use by submitting a proposal based on the Institute of Zoology's biological justification this week. The extraction of saiga antelopes is planned from September 1 to November 30, subject to the scientists' justification.
The President had previously instructed the government to analyze the sudden increase in the saiga population, which is negatively impacting agriculture and poses escalating epizootic risks, during the Fourth Session of the National Kurultai.
The saiga antelope's population rebound from near-extinction to over 4 million individuals currently makes up almost all remaining saiga worldwide. Although a triumph for biodiversity, the rapid expansion has brought unwanted consequences for local agriculture. This delicate balance between conservation and agriculture has prompted the Kazakh government to authorize limited hunting to control the herd sizes and mitigate the crop damage. The government's approach includes regulated hunting, community involvement, and continuing monitoring and enforcement to prevent future population crashes.
- In the ongoing discussion about the saiga antelope overpopulation, Deputy Pavel Kazantsev also commended the potential benefits of science, specifically environmental science, in providing solutions for regulating the animal numbers.
- Galymzhan Sahanov, advocating for sustainable agriculture, suggested integrating health-and-wellness practices through fitness-and-exercise programs for local farmers, aiming to strengthen their ability to manage and adapt to the challenges posed by the saiga antelope population in Kazakhstan.
