A mass die-off of saiga antelopes has been recorded in the Aktobe region. Local residents filmed a video on the bank of the Kairakty River, where the bodies of more than 100 steppe antelopes lay in the water and on the shore.
According to Cmn.kz, specialists from the territorial inspection of forestry and wildlife examined the area, collected water samples, and organised the burial of the animals.
The head of the inspection, Adilgerei Auelbayev, reported that the tragedy occurred during the migration of the animals. According to him, around 10,000 saiga antelopes gathered at a watering hole near a cliff. As a result of the stampede, some of the animals were trampled.
"The saiga are currently migrating south. They gathered at the water, and a stampede began. Water samples have been taken, and the carcasses have been buried. Twenty-two people and eight pieces of equipment were involved," explained Auelbayev.
The theory of disease or poisoning was not confirmed. The department noted that the animals' horns had not been removed, and all carcasses were buried together.
For context, public figures and environmentalists have repeatedly expressed concern over the Ministry of Ecology's measures for regulating the saiga antelope population. According to them, the department does not publish data transparently enough and risks repeating the negative experience of previous years, when control over culling raised serious questions.