In the West Kazakhstan Region (WKR) measures have begun to control the saiga population, which in the region stands at 2.3 million head. Authorities plan to cull 20% of the total population — 460,000 individuals.
As reported by the head of the WKR territorial inspectorate of forestry and wildlife, Nurlan Rakhymzhanov, four teams from the state enterprise "Okhotzooprom" are involved, working in the Taskala and Baiterek districts. Around 40 people and 12 units of equipment have been deployed for the operations.
"This morning, male saigas are being shot. In September, corralling will be added," Nurlan Rakhymzhanov said.
According to the territorial inspectorate, saiga population control work was carried out in the WKR back in 2023, when 29,000 saigas were culled, which, it should be noted, is 16 times less than current plans.
It is reported that seven existing enterprises are capable of butchering 1,900 saiga carcasses per day, with cold storage facilities totalling 440 tonnes. The list includes Kublei LLP, Batys-Nyk LLP, Kairov IE, Zhalpaktal Agricultural Production Cooperative, Zheins IE, Isaev IE, and Amangeldy IE.
As reported by the Deputy Akim of the WKR, Kaliyar Aitmukhambetov, negotiations are underway with the Atameken Syrym Agricultural Production Cooperative and Amangeldy IE. Additionally, plans are in place to build four enterprises capable of processing the meat of 1,950 saigas per day — FartOil LLP, Kubeev IE, ID Miras LLP, and Batys-Kiyik LLP.
It is worth recalling that just a few days ago, on 1 July, at the Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan Agrarian-Technical University (WKATU) in Uralsk, they announced the development of an experimental batch of sausage made from saiga meat. According to scientists, 13–15 kg of meat can be obtained from one saiga carcass.
Kaliyar Aitmukhambetov clarified that at midnight on 3 July, two teams began work in the Taskala district. But since there was no result, they were moved to the Baiterek district. The meat processing enterprise Kublei LLP has been assigned to them. Another two teams have been moved from the Akzhaik district to the Baiterek district, with Batys-Nyk LLP assigned to them.
Furthermore, regarding the saiga population control issue, a regional headquarters has been established, operating in accordance with the cooperation scheme for 2025–2027. Since the beginning of the year, 1,736 saiga carcasses have been destroyed by incineration at livestock burial sites.
"In accordance with the algorithm based on tasks given to local executive bodies, burial sites for carcasses have been identified during saiga population control, and equipment has been allocated for transport to designated areas. It is clear that saiga population control is an ongoing process. Saiga carcasses are taken to livestock burial sites intended for farm animals. Due to these sites reaching capacity, there is a need to build专门的 livestock burial sites," said the deputy regional akim.
Today's events demonstrate that authorities easily move from loud statements about protecting 'symbols of the Kazakh steppe' to plans for removing almost half a million animals. And this, it must be recalled, is still far from the end.
It is remembered that in 2023, the so-called 'population control' also started quite rosily, but it ended in outright barbarism: organs and hides of killed animals scattered across the steppe, illegal slaughter at car washes, illicit meat trading. Yet then, if the territorial inspectorate's data is to be believed, only 29,000 saigas were culled, while today 460,000 individuals are already planned.
However, the reader may also find it interesting to ponder where those precious saiga horns will ultimately end up after the 'regulation' of 460,000 animals? And who will be responsible for their safekeeping this time?