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Saigas: a herd on the green steppe of Bokeiorda

Saiga antelope in Kazakhstan: numbers, range and can you see one

Kazakhstan holds most of the world's saiga. The April 2026 aerial count put the population at about 4.689 million, up from roughly 21,500 in 2003.

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Photo: AlyonaKaptyonkina · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Wikipedia puts about 99 percent of the world’s saiga antelope in Kazakhstan. The aerial count of April 2026 estimated about 4.689 million, against about 21,500 in 2003. Specialists stress that this is a statistical estimate, not a head count.

Saiga in Kazakhstan, thousands
1,200 1974 21.5 2003 137.5 2012 295.5 2015 108.3 2016 1,915 2023 2,833.6 2024 4,689 2026

Committee slides (2025), 2026 aerial count

The rise was not smooth. Numbers more than halved between 2015 and 2016. And the Committee’s own 2025 slides forecast 6 million for 2026, well above the actual count. Specialists point to culling and hard winters.

Three populations

PopulationApril 2026Change on 2025Where
Uralabout 2,700,000+17.4%West Kazakhstan, Bokey Orda
Betpak-Dalaabout 1,870,000+16.9%Central Kazakhstan, Irgiz-Turgai
Ustyurtabout 119,000+52.6%Mangystau, Ustyurt
Total4,689,000+17.9%

Not on the Red Book list, and now culled

The saiga is not on Kazakhstan’s national Red Book list. Under population control, 196,173 animals were removed before the 2026 count, and catches in West Kazakhstan were 19,699 in 2023, 7,777 in 2024 and 108,458 in 2025. Farmers report damage to pasture and crops. Others point to past die-offs such as 2015 as a reason for caution.

Can you see saiga as a visitor

We found no dedicated saiga tour we could verify. The realistic options are:

  • Korgalzhyn: published route no. 3 is named “Akboken”, and The Astana Times reported saiga encounters there in 2023. Arrange it with the reserve.
  • Irgiz-Turgai: created for the saiga, but signs on the boundary say no entry.
  • Almaty Zoo: the one sure sighting. Its saiga herd breeds regularly, and two calves were born in June 2026.

Calving takes place in May. Do not approach herds at that time, and do not fly a drone. For other animals, see where to see wildlife.

Korgalzhyn: newborn saiga calf hiding in steppe grass, Korgalzhyn reserve, May
A newborn saiga calf at Korgalzhyn. Yakov Fedorov · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Not verified yet
  • We could not open a standalone result for the 2025 count. The 2026 growth rate implies about 3.98 million, and Wikipedia cites 3.9 million adults.
  • We found no public data on where herds are in a given month.

Frequently asked questions

How many saiga are there in Kazakhstan?
About 4.689 million according to the aerial count of 7 to 25 April 2026. It is a calculated estimate made before calving, not a head count.
Can tourists see saiga in Kazakhstan?
There is no dedicated saiga tour we could verify, and herds move. Your most realistic chance is an arranged route at Korgalzhyn, with no guarantee.
Why is Kazakhstan culling saiga?
Numbers grew fast, and saiga now compete with livestock and damage crops. About 196,173 animals were removed under population control before the 2026 count. The policy is debated.
Can I bring saiga horn home?
No. Horns are subject to mandatory marking in Kazakhstan, and illegal possession and sale are punished. Do not try to export them.

Sources

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