The Issue of Reproduction of Saigas in the North-Western Pre-Caspian Region

Abstract

It is characteristic for saigas of the Northwestern Pre-Caspian Region that the breeding season rut is strictly fixed and takes place in December, and the young appear in May. At the same time, O. E. Tsapliuk (1968) identified two periods of increased sexual activity of siagas: the first is in November-January and the second is in May-June. The authors state that for the Northwestern Pre-Caspian Region the spring-summer period of sexual activity can be regarded as a fading breeding biorhythm while for saigas’ ancestors it was normal to have two breeding seasons. In the last few years, there is a tendency when many female species, especially young ones, remain dry due to the fact that there are not enough mature males, which finally leads to loss of natural production control. The influence of external factors (poaching as well as natural ones) on the reproductive function may decay the reproduction biorhythm, which is not typical of the population in the current climatic conditions. This is one of the trends indicating the potential for natural regulation, for preserving diverse groups of animals and conservation of species in the modern world.