saiga

(also ‘saiga antelope’)

a kind of animal – mammal – four-legged – grass-eating — belongs to the antelope family – medium-sized with short pale brown or grey outer coat (hair) and light or white under coat in summer, and all white in winter, cone-shaped head with medium-sized, leaf-like folded ears, (only in males) two 8-10 inch-long, straight ringed horns, round clear protruding eyes, long (proboscis) moveable nose, thick neck with long mane-like hair on the lower side of the neck in males, slender legs, 2-6 inch long tail; size: 2-3 feet tall at the shoulder, 4-5 feet long, and weight: 25-60 Kg. (male larger than female); feeds on plant matter; lives for 6-10 years; originally from Eurasian steppe region, but now found only in parts of Russia, Kazakhstan and western Mongolia

saiga horns

male ~~ stag

female ~~ hind

baby ~~ fawn; foal; calf

group ~~ herd

voice (call) ~~ grunt (?)

Special Features:

a saiga’s nose

The name ‘saiga’ is from Russian language.

The most interesting and striking feature of the saiga antelope is its face which is odd-looking with bulging eyes and bulbous, tubular nose that is similar in looks to that of the tapir, a pig-like animal related to horses!

The animal experts believe that the tubular nose of the saiga is used for making the breathed-in air warm in winter and for filtering the dust in dry air in summer!

Only the male saigas have horns that grow to 8-10 inches long, and they are hollow, ringed and straight. Like most other antelopes, the saiga horns stay on all round the year – they do not shed (do not drop off and re-grow, like the antlers)!

Like in the case of rhinoceros, the saga antelope is also threatened with extinction (dying out completely) because of its horns which are used in the Chinese traditional medicine! The saiga horns have been used in place of rhinoceros horns in the folk medicine!!

Saigas have been hunted for their meat, skins, and horns.

The saiga antelope is revered in some cultures in Russia and neighbouring countries!

Note: ‘Saiga’ is more commonly used to refer to a series of guns. For an illustrious article/ad about the different models in the Saiga family of guns, please click here.

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